301 



CULTIVATION. 



1. Preliminary Remarks. 



HAVING given an account of how the Exotic 

 Ferns of the preceding enumeration have been 

 introduced to this country, I shall now proceed to state 

 the hest means for growing and preserving them in 

 our collections; and as the successful cultivation of 

 Perns depends much upon a knowledge of the con- 

 ditions under which they grow in their native countryj 

 I begin with a few observations on that point. 



Perns have already been spoken of as favourites 

 with the plant-loving public ; but it is not simply on 

 heir merits as pretty and interesting objects that they 

 claim attention. Geology reveals to us that Coal — 

 that source of our domestic comforts and national 

 greatness — is formed chiefly of Perns, which at some 

 remote period grew upon the earth. However, this is 

 not the place to discuss the views and speculative 

 theories regarding the thermal and gaseous condition 

 of the earth and atmosphere, under which Ferns then 

 flourished, or to reason on the manner by which they 

 were converted into coal. I may simply remark that 

 fossil remains show, that contemporaneous with 

 Ferns grew plants of remarkable character, quite 



