CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDEXING. 



J4S 



by the young plants, which, are freely developed in 

 the forks near the extremity of the fi'onds. 



Cultivation. — Most of the Gold and Silver Ferns 

 are easily grown. As a rule, they require more light 



amongst the most troublesome weeds when a piece of 

 ground is cleared, and grow with great luxui'iance 

 under the vertical rays of a ti'opical sun. Many of 

 them, in England, other conditions of course being 

 suitable, can scarcely have too much light, and it 



GYiaNOGRAMMA DeCOMPOSIXA. 



than most other ferns ; indeed, they luxuriate in 

 direct sunlight if the plants have been grown in this 

 way from the first. Specimens which have been 

 accustomed to the subdued light and shading found 

 necessary for so many other ferns, do not, of course, 

 like a sudden change into sunshine, and would for a 

 time show the effects of such treatment. In some 

 pans of tropical America some of the Gold Ferns are 



is important to bear this in mind. For hanging 



baskets, some of them are amongst the most valuable 

 of ferns, as their bright colours and graceful habit 

 render them so distinct. S^Tinging should be care- 

 fully avoided, as the flour-like powder on the fronds 

 is washed off, and the plants disfigured by the cai-e- 

 less administration of water. The mixture m which 

 Gj^mnogrammas thrive best should be made up of one 



