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would be quite sufficient to completely ruin plants which for years may 

 have grown vigorously. 



On account of their requiring extra shading, and also moisture in much 

 greater abundance than any other classes of Ferns, Hymenophyllums, Tricho- 

 manes, and Todeas are hardly manageable unless kept by themselves. 

 Where these plants are cultivated in sufficient quantity to till a house, a 

 naturally shaded spot should be selected for it, in a place where the ground 

 can be dug deep enough to allow the side walls to be built without glass. 

 In fact, a Filmy Fernery should represent, as nearly as possible, a natural 

 ravine, simply covered with a glass roof. In such a structure, fluctuations 

 of temperature and dangers arising from changes of atmospheric conditions 

 are greatly minimised, and artificial heat is scarcely necessary. 



The reason why Filmy Ferns have for a long time been so neglected, is 

 mostly traceable to the fact that until recently a great many of them were 

 termed " Stove Filmies," and were, consequently, kept in too high a 

 temperature, rendering them a constant source of disappointment. In 

 many cases this proved highly injurious to the health of the plants, especially 

 if the atmosphere, besides being over-heated, happened also to be dry at 

 times, in which instances the results of years of patient labour were 

 destroyed in a few hours. 



The more rational mode of culture to which these lovely Ferns are now 

 subjected in various places, and notably in our great national establishment 

 at Kew, is the result of careful observations, and also of a series of 

 experiments made by various practical growers, to whom the success in their 

 cultivation is principally due. The most energetic and indefatigable 

 champion of cool treatment, as applied to Filmy Ferns, and the person to 

 whom most credit for the innovation is due, was Mr. J. Cooper Forster, 

 who, when living in Upper Grosvenor Street, possessed there an excellent 

 collection of these most interesting plants. They were a source of constant 

 recreation to their owner ; he had an extensive knowledge of their require- 

 ments, was acquainted, not only with their names, but also with their 

 various habitats, and, in many cases, with incidents connected with their 

 discovery, and was particularly foncl of discoursing upon the same, thus 

 imparting most valuable and somewhat miscellaneous information to his 

 visitors. For many years this truly practical grower contended that, with 



