540 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



and ventilation as being beneficial to the welfare of plants grown 

 in the natural fernery, applies with equal force to plants grown 

 in pots ; but it must be borne in mind that in this case Ferns 

 require greater and more constant attention than when planted 

 out, as they are much more liable to suffer from the effects of 



bad root action through stoppage of the 

 'f^. ^ pots, overwatering, or drought when their 



roots are confined in pots, than when 

 they can freely extend and ramble among 



the stones and moss, 

 which render the natu- 

 ral fernery the most 

 attractive part of an 

 amateur's garden. The 

 repotting of Ferns is 

 an operation of great 

 importance, and the 

 principal points to be 

 observed in per- 

 forming it are 

 that they should 

 not on any ac- 

 count be over- 

 potted, and that 

 special care 

 should be taken 

 to prevent the 

 roots of the plants 

 being torn away 

 or broken off. 

 Over - potting is 

 undoubtedly a 

 frequent cause of 

 loss of Ferns, 

 and should always 

 be avoided. Al- 

 though a hard- 

 and-fast rule as 

 to the dimensions 

 of the pots to be 

 used cannot pos- 

 sibly be laid down, 



it is well to remember that by far the best plan is to repot several 

 times, as required, giving a slightly larger pot each time, than 

 to put plants into much larger pots with the object of saving 

 labour, or the trouble of repotting in a month or two. Through 

 successive repottings the plants derive from each additional 

 supply of new soil the full amount of the nutritive properties 



Fig. 339. — Anemia tomentosa. 



