WILD FERNS 235 



selves. When this begins, which will be after some 

 two or three months, you may introduce a trifle of air 

 by placing a bit of broken slate under the edge of the 

 bell-glass, in a few days a bit double the thickness, 

 and so on until you can tilt the edge of the glass a 

 little. The sponge all round must always be kept 

 moist with cold boiled water. The pots should be 

 properly labelled. Be sure, by using a magnifying 

 glass, that you are sowing the actual spores and not 

 the minute spore-cases only. When parting the 

 young Ferns for growing on, it is well to have the 

 pots not too moist, or the young roots will cling to- 

 gether and be likely to get broken ; when slightly dry 

 the soil falls easily from the small rootlets. Shade is 

 indispensable." 



