THE BOOK OF FERN CULTURE 



INTRODUCTION 



In the following pages on "Practical Fern Culture" 

 the writer has endeavoured to give brief instructions 

 regarding the requirements of the most popular Ferns, 

 with the aim of assisting those who have had little or no 

 previous experience. It is also hoped that older growers 

 will also find some notes of interest. The writer's 

 experience extends over nearly forty years, during 

 which time he has been more or less associated with 

 Ferns and their culture, and has seen great changes. 

 In addition to having been associated with one of the 

 largest Fern growers for about sixteen years, the writer 

 has gained much experience from visiting other nurseries 

 where Ferns are extensively grown. Ferns, or rather 

 most of them, are no longer regarded as semi-aquatics, 

 to be kept continually moist and under heavy shading 

 and green glass. It has been fully proved in practice 

 that those things are a great abomination. It was before 

 the Kew authorities abolished green glass for the Fern 

 houses that the writer of these pages commenced to 

 condemn its uses, and in the Horticultural press no 

 opportunity has been lost of further depreciating its 

 value. While not wishing to underrate what many 

 excellent authorities have written, it may be found that 

 the instructions given in the following pages appear 

 contradictory to much that has been previously pub- 

 lished. The excuse is that in following practical results , 



