r6s 



FERNERY WEEDS. 



Naturally, when for our choicest Ferns we provide glass 

 .accommodation in a conservatory, which we keep as cool 

 and moist as possible for the sake of the pets it contains, 

 other forms of vegetation make their appearance, and if not 

 suppressed are as prone as the weeds out of doors to assert 

 a would-be monopoly, and do their best to oust the proper 

 occupants. Equally naturally, theconditionsbeing different, 

 we find these weeds to be mostly different species to the out- 

 side ones, and sometimes to be so pretty as to render their 

 drastic suppression somewhat of a trial to the admirer of 

 vegetative beauty. First and foremost, of course, since 

 the occupants proper shed their myriads of spores every 

 year under very favourable conditions for their germina- 

 tion, many of these succeed in reaching the frond stage, 

 and some few varietal forms of moderate merit seem to be 

 endowed with special vitality, and if not weeded out will 

 heavily handicap their more select associates. These, 

 then, constitute one section of what we must, with proper 

 regard to the welfare of the elite, treat as weeds and 

 eradicate on similar lines. In this connection, however, 

 the fern lover should always keep his eye open for prizes, 

 for stray seedlings may appear of the choicest forms, 

 though it is remarkable what an extensive crop of very 

 inferior ones turn up w r hose parentage under such circum- 

 stances is a puzzle. If, however, we have a single specimen 

 of what is known as the " Craigii " section of Lady Fern, 

 we may rely upon its vagrant offspring springing up every- 

 where and displaying all its imperfections and eccentricities 

 on a liberal scale, though very rarely will there be one 

 amongst them which is worth bringing on. The Lastreas, 

 Male Fern and Broad Buckler Fern, too, come very freely, 

 and in their true varietal forms, as a rule. The inferior or 

 11 rogue" types, however, form appropriate present.-. 



