Ferns in Pots. 31 



next size larger without breaking their balls of roots, 

 and let the operation be performed in precisely the 

 same manner as already described. Take off the 

 shading, and give the plants very much air both day and 

 night for another month. During very bright sunshine 

 shade them for an hour or two ; but let them have the 

 sunshine morning and evening, and the night dew. 

 Continue to water as before, but give less and less, so 

 that by the 1st of October they will be watered only 

 once a week. After that date, until frost occurs, shut 

 them up at night, take off the light all day, and once 

 a week pour water gently over their crowns, sufficient 

 to make the crowns moist, but not to sodden the soil 

 in the pots. When frost occurs, throw a few mats on 

 the light; if the frost increases in severity, take off 

 the light, and strew dry hay amongst the plants, taking 

 particular care to cover their crowns with this protect- 

 ing material. Put the lights on, lay some dry straw or 

 hay on the glass, and then lay a good mat over all. 

 If you neglect these precautions, you will probably 

 not lose any of your plants, for they are all hardy; 

 but the effect of frost upon them will be that they will 

 be a week or two later in growing in spring than if they 

 had been protected, s and so I must insist on protection 

 as necessary. 



Whenever the weather is mild, or the frost only 

 amounts to a few degrees at night, continue to pouralittle 

 water overthe crowns once a week; in fact, that operation 

 is only to be suspended when the weather is really severe. 

 Give air as often as possible, never allow them to become 

 thoroughly wet, and keep them safe from being frozen. 



