The Art of Multiplying Ferns. 65 



then put the little plant in its place and fill in round 

 the roots and press moderately firm. If this is done in 

 spring before the fronds have unrolled, you may be 

 content to give a little water and put them in a frame 

 and keep shut rather close until they begin to grow, 

 giving very little water until they have made some 

 progress. If you have no frame, the pots may be 

 placed in any sheltered shady corner on a bed of coal 

 ashes, and will almost take care of themselves. But the 

 old plant remains, not much diminished in size by the 

 removal of the offsets. Lay it on its side and care- 

 fully pass the knife through the centre of it, and as it 

 separates into two portions, you will probably see how 

 to divide it yet further without using the knife again, 

 securing to each piece a centre or crown, and a tuft of 

 roots. Treat these in the same manner as the offsets ; 

 or, if you have not rashly torn the plant to shreds, you 

 may at once plant the divisions in the fernery, filling 

 in round its roots with your best mixture of sandy 

 peat, and pressing each firmly in its place. A little 

 shade, and occasional sprinkling, will assist them to 

 become established, and they will soon take care of 

 themselves. 



If you were to proceed in a similar manner with the 

 same plants in the summer time, when crowned with 

 luxurious leafage, you would have to be , as quick as 

 possible about the work, and pot all the pieces and 

 shut them up in a frame for a fortnight, to recover and 

 make fresh roots, during that time taking care to 

 sprinkle them frequently and also to avoid making the 

 soil in the pots very wet, for too much moisture to 



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