TREE FERNS. 



15 



and turfy loam. Water should then be sprinkled over them, sparingly at 

 first, yet in sufficient quantity to keep them moderately but constantly 

 moist ; but no water should be allowed to collect and remain in their 

 crowns. These sprinklings should become more frequent, and also more 

 copious, as the new roots are produced and the new fronds are developed 

 — indeed, until the plants are perfectly established. 



From the description of their native habitats, it will naturally be inferred 

 that Tree Ferns under cultivation require an abundance of water along their 

 stems, which, at all times of the year, should be kept constantly moist. 

 Provided they receive sufficient water, they are not very particular as to 

 their soil, for we have seen them thriving equally well in rough, peaty 

 soil and moss combined, or in pure loam. Perhaps the most peculiar 

 point in connection with Tree Fern culture is that the stems of Cyathea 

 dealbata imported from New Zealand are invariably found to have been 

 growing in very stiff clay, yet, under cultivation, these same Ferns succeed 

 best when planted in peat. 



When grown in pots or in tubs, Tree Ferns may very easily be kept 

 within bounds ; but when planted out in the conservatory, they require 

 special attention to prevent them from attaining too large a size. In this 

 case, the best plan to be adopted, by which to prevent excess of growth, 

 is to cut annually round their stems at a distance of about 3ft., with the 

 spade, a sort of trench, which will be found sufficient to check their 

 exuberance. By so doing, the plants will be as if kept in tubs. This 

 root-pruning should be done between the months of November and February, 

 according to the temperature of the house in which the Ferns are growing, 

 and before active vegetation commences. In spite of all that attention, 

 it sometimes happens, however, that Tree Ferns attain too large dimensions 

 for the place which was originally intended for them. In such cases, 

 there are only two ways of getting over the difficulty : one consists in 

 raising the structure in which the plants are growing ; the other, which 

 is far less expensive, is the reduction of the stems, an operation which 

 may be performed with safety at any time between the beginning of 

 November and the middle of February, provided that the trunks thus 

 operated upon are afterwards subjected to rational treatment. In the first 

 place, it is of the utmost importance that the operation should be carried 



