80 Ferns and Fern Culture 
Those species with rhizomes creeping ahove ground are 
easily propagated. Thissection comprises the Davallias, 
commonly called Hare’s Foot and Squirrel’s Foot Ferns, 
the Anapeltis, Drynarias, and many others. If the 
rhizomes be kept pegged close to the soil they root as 
they grow, and may be separated from the parent plant 
by first cutting through the rhizome and then carefully 
taking it up with all its roots attached, and two or three 
fronds. When planted they should be pegged and made 
secure, and they will soon become established. If the 
rhizomes have extended over the sides of the pot they 
will be destitute of roots. It will be useless to cut and 
plant these unless the rhizome is traced back a sufficient 
distance to take up with a number of roots attached. If 
this is not done the part which has grown over the side 
should be bent back, pegged on the soil, and left until it 
has produced roots, when it may be separated with little 
risk ; or a pot containing soil might be placed under it, 
the rhizome pegged on, and left thus until rooted. There 
are many different species amenable to this mode of 
propagation, but in every case there must be a growing 
point to the rhizome, besides fibrous roots, and, when 
possible, several fronds. 
Filmy Ferns, Hymenophylle and Trichomanes, may 
be propagated in this manner, but they must afterwards 
be kept very close and damp, where there is no evapora- 
tion to affect them. They should be in a glass framé, or 
under propagating glasses, until well rooted. All Ferns. 
after being divided, are better placed in a close frame for 
awhile. Although many do not actually require it, they 
do not fee the disturbance so much, and they recover 
from the check much more quickly when so treated. 
Gleichenias are the must difficult: subjects to deal with 
by division. Large plants can rarely be divided success- 
fully. It is only by securing the youager part of the 
rhizomes with fibrous roots and growing points that 
success is possible. The old portion of the rhizomes is 
valueless, only so far as its roots may help to support the 
whole. They seldom, if ever, break out again; hence, 
young, vigorous plants may be much more successfully 
manipulated. 
