FERN GROWING 141 



with a bell-glass, was placed under the same arch, and as 

 long as it remained there no fronds appeared. 



Regarding the proper time for sowing spores there is a 

 diversity of opinion : some advocate keeping them till spring ; 

 it has always been the practice of the author to sow as soon 

 as possible ; and as to the portions of fronds desired, they are 

 placed in papers, and left between the pages of a book for 

 a couple of days, when they would readily scrape by using 

 a blunt penknife. At the time of getting the fronds, pans 

 are prepared, so as to be in a proper condition as regards the 

 necessary moisture of the soil. These seed-pans are always 

 kept in a warm greenhouse until the prothalli are large 

 enough to be repotted, and even then still kept for a 

 time in a greenhouse. On potting singly, the plants are 

 allowed to remain in heat for two or three weeks, after 

 which, if the weather has become mild, they are placed out 

 of doors. If the weather is cold, they are kept in the same 

 house, or when strong enough are removed to a cool green- 

 house or frame. 



The author has constructed shallow two-light frames, 

 using the Willesden waterproof green scrim instead of glass. 

 These act the same as glass, are much lighter, less expensive, 

 and are at the same time a shade. In these are placed 

 about four inches of a porous material, usually the fine ridd- 

 lings of coal after it has been burnt, and in this the seedling 

 Ferns are plunged and flourish. This scrim is also an excel- 

 lent shade for Fern-houses, and, being waterproof, it wears 

 longer than the usual shading. It is the only shade that the 

 author uses for Filmy Ferns.* 



As regards insects, many are of interest to the Fern- 

 grower. There are a number that may be constantly seen 

 moving about amongst the prothalli ; they are very small, and 



* The new patent varnished wire-canvas is an excellent substitute for glass, 

 durable, and is useful also as a shade. 



