Ferns and Fern Culture. 11 
of the hardier and more easily-managed kinds invariably 
go on step by step until they become proficient ‘in the 
management of even the most fastidious variety. Begin- 
ning with the common species, their love increases, and 
they do not rest until p»ssessed of the most highly- 
valued members of the family. 
MODES OF GROWTH. 
In order to understand thoroughly the why and the 
wherefore of various matters, it will be well to consider 
first the modes of growth of different species. 
Most tropical Ferns are evergreen. The fronds of one 
season are retained until others are produced the follow- 
ing season, and in some instances fronds remain green 
on the plants for a number of years. There are a few 
tropical species which are deciduous—that is, they lose 
‘their foliage at a given time, and remain without for a 
longer or shorter period—but it is among the species 
, of colder climates that the deciduous kinds are most 
numerous. These, during their period of rest, must not 
be neglected. It is sometimes thought, by inexperienced 
cultivators, that when Ferns have lost their foliage they 
may be put on one side and left without water for weeks. 
Thus they become dust dry, the roots are injured if not 
killed outright, and the plants cannot possibly make the 
vigorous growth the following season that they would 
if they had been kept continually damp. Those which 
have lost their foliage should be supplied with water 
enough to keep them always moist. This will be referred 
to again under another heading. 
The deciduous species are not quite so generally appre- 
ciated as those which are evergreen, but it must be said 
for them that when their new growth does appear it is 
often exceptionally beautiful, and possesses a freshness 
specially noticeable in their case. All Ferns consist of 
three distinct parts, viz., roots, stem, and foliage. 
ROOTS. 
It may seem unnecessary to many to draw attention 
to this fact, but among those who have not given much 
