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After some months (I shall give details as to dates later) 

 the grower will be gladdened by seeing tiny fronds beginning 

 to uncoil and develop. 



When the plant is sufficiently matured the time has come 

 for the final process, viz. : the separation of the young 

 fern, for such it now is, from its parent. 



I commence by cutting the stem of the old frond, upon 

 which the little fern is now growing, with a sharp knife. The 

 closer this is done to the central stock or caudex the better. 

 I next carefully draw the hairpin or hairpins ; and finally 

 with the blade of a knife or better with a strong wooden 

 label I carefully lift the whole. The next step is the planting 

 of the young fern, or ferns, if there are more bulbils than one, 

 in pots. In doing this I leave sufficient of the old stem to 

 enable me to anchor it by means of two small hairpins 

 placed one on each side of the little fern, and firmly fixed 

 in the compost. The details as to potting, draining and 

 proper compost are such as rule in all fern potting, the only 

 special point is to ensure here, as in previous stages, that 

 the plant is immovable. If the plant is sufficiently matured 

 and proper roots have been formed when the potting takes 

 place the future success is assured. 



It remains to give some hints as to the dates upon which 

 the operations already described are possible and desirable. 



The causes which lead to the formation of bulbils are, so 

 far as I am aware, obscure. Some species (and varieties) 

 yield bulbils at an early age, while others take a long time, 

 and, of course, there are many that do not yield them at all. 



I got my first plant of P.A. plumosum laxum Fox in 

 1897, its first bulbil was formed in 1903 ; I got my first plant 

 of P.A. plumosum Esplanin 1903, and its first bulbil in 1910. 



Once the plant begins bearing it is likely to continue at 

 any rate for some years, 



