Cultivation of Greenhouse and Stove Ferns. 103 



bulk to be used in a rather lumpy state. For very 

 robust habited sorts of large growth the compost should 

 consist of two parts loam, one part peat, and one of 

 sand, with a liberal addition all through of broken 

 brick or tile of the size of walnuts or hazel-nuts. 

 Ferns that require a drier soil than ordinary should 

 have a compost containing more sand, less loam, and 

 the addition of a considerable proportion of pounded 

 bricks or charcoal. 



No particular kind of pots is necessary for the 

 cultivation of stove and greenhouse ferns, but, as a 

 rule, they do not root deeply, and shallow pots are to 

 be preferred. Those we use for specimens are made 

 for us by Messrs. Adams, of the Potteries, Belle Isle, 

 King's Cross ; they are extra stout in substance, care- 

 fully finished, and well burnt, and in proportions wider 

 than their depth. A favorite size with us for medium 

 specimens is thirteen inches wide (inside), and nine 

 inches deep. In these we allow our specimens to remain 

 two or three, and even four or five years, without being 

 repotted, though, as a rule, all pot ferns should be re- 

 potted annually in February or March, both to repair 

 the defects of the drainage and remove effete soil, and 

 supply fresh food for maintaining a vigorous growth. 



In every case thorough drainage is of the utmost im- 

 portance, and no progress can be made in fern culture 

 unless the operator pays especial attention to this 

 matter. As for whatever else may be requisite to 

 crown your labours with success, I will endeavour in 

 what follows to indicate as clearly as I can, but it is 

 very certain I shall leave unsaid much that might be 



