VIVIPAROUS AND PROLIFEROUS FERNS. 



93 



base by succulent appendages forming scales ; each of the scales is provided 

 with two latent bulbils, which never fail to develop into plants if inserted in a 

 compost of chopped sphagnum and silver sand, and kept in a warm and moist 

 place. It is an experiment which we have repeatedly tried on all the species 

 belonging to these two genera, and in which we have always been successful. 



From the above descriptions it will be seen that, although Ferns of 

 many genera possess them to a more or less developed degree, the proliferous 

 and viviparous characters are shared principally by a few special genera : most 

 of the others have only one or a couple of representatives partaking of it — 

 unless it be that the want of observation has, until now, prevented us from 

 discovering some secret of Nature connected with proliferation existing in most 

 Ferns in the same way as that which affects the plants belonging to the 

 fourth group. 



The modes of propagation applicable to these Proliferous and Viviparous 

 Ferns are of the simplest description. In most cases, indeed, Nature 

 seems to have unmistakably indicated the most rational mode of increase : in 

 the case of solitary and terminal bulbils, it is found best not to sever their 

 connection with the parent, as by firmly pegging down the end of each of 

 the fronds to the soil, or to the moss surrounding the plants, the bulbils thus 

 secured rapidly form perfectly independent little plants. As regards species 

 provided with bulbils on their fronds, it is well known that when, of their 

 own accord, the bulbils become detached from the mother plant and drop 

 on to the ground, they soon form independent subjects. This applies 

 particularly to the majority of Aspleniums, especially to those contained in 

 the bulbiferum section, such as A. dimorphum (biforme, cliversifolium), A. laxum 

 pumilum, and A. Colensoi (ffookeria?mm), whose comparatively short fronds are 

 at all times literally loaded with partly-developed fronds. The same treatment 

 is equally applicable to other Aspleniums of dwarfer habit, whose foliage is much 

 more finely divided, and at times covered with young plantules bearing no 

 resemblance whatever to the parent plants ; the plantules being picked off 

 when provided with three or four rudimentary fronds, and lightly placed on 

 damp, sandy soil, will, without even the help of a close atmosphere, emit roots 

 in a comparatively short space of time, when they may with safety be put into 

 single pots. In a similar way Nephrodium prolijkum, Woodwardia orientalis, 



