68 The Fern Garden. 



rage a new growth. The principle is the same in 

 every case, but as different classes of ferns differ in 

 constitution, so the practice must be varied to suit 

 them. 



In every case of multiplying by division it must be 

 borne in mind that the operation severely taxes the 

 energies of the plants, hence the need of extra care for 

 some time afterwards to restore their vigour. The 

 soil in which small offsets are potted may with advan- 

 tage contain more sand than strong plants require, and 

 it may be quite fine in texture, whereas for strong 

 plants it is best somewhat lumpy. So, again, extra 

 warmth and occasional damping of the crowns, and a 

 humid atmosphere with shade from sunshine, are aids 

 of great importance. Begin with cheap hardy kinds, 

 and take as much pains with them as you would with the 

 most tender and costly, and you will enjoy the work, 

 be rewarded with success, and acquire experience for 

 higher flights in a most amusing pastime. 



" If at first you don't succeed, 

 Try, try, try again." 



Now for the spores ; and first by way of preface. The 

 spores of tropical or hothouse ferns must be placed 

 in heat or they will not germinate. The spores of 

 greenhouse ferns may be raised in summer time without 

 the aid of artificial heat, but it is a safer plan to put 

 them into a propagating house and treat them the same 

 as the tropical kinds until the little plants resulting from 

 their germination have made some progress. As for 

 the spores of hardy ferns, they may be raised in a 

 frame kept close and shaded. 



