WATERING FERNS 17 



vitality which should remain stored up for making 

 growth during the natural period, and in the dull 

 "Winter months they cannot recuperate or form the 

 strong crowns for making another start in the Spring. 



There are some of our stove Ferns which are natur- 

 ally deciduous (that is they loose all their fronds even 

 when kept in warmth), and these require careful treat- 

 ment. They must not be dried off too much, or exposed 

 to a very low temperature. It is the same with the 

 hardy deciduous sorts. Take our British Ferns : under 

 natural conditions they get more moisture while they 

 are dormant than they do when they are in active growth. 



The Davallias (deciduous kinds) are the only Ferns 

 I have found to succeed well after being kept quite dry 

 for any length of time. 



It may be pointed out that it requires some experience 

 in regard to the time when water may be partially with- 

 held and temperature lowered. In the ordinary course, 

 with established plants, there will be little difficulty, as 

 they will have naturally completed their growth and 

 properly matured it by the Autumn/ but young plants 

 may be growing later and should not be checked until 

 the fronds are well matured. There are many which 

 make their fronds in whorls ; and all of these may be 

 rested, while such as have one frond following another 

 will require more uniform treatment, and should not be 

 subject to so great a change in the temperature. Yet a 

 low, or comparatively low, temperature during the early 

 winter months is beneficial to all Ferns. 



"Watering Ferns 



Over-watering is the most common error connected 

 with Fern culture. Very few Ferns require to be treated 

 as acquatics. The old practice of heavy shading and 

 continual moisture is to some extent being discontinued, 



