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it does not pay to rush them, as they would not be so 

 compact and bushy, and would of course be much softer. 

 Successional batches should be sown as required, as they 

 soon become too large and if confined for any time in 

 small pots assume a stunted and sickly appearance. 



When larger plants are wanted they should be kept 

 moved up, as they need it and receive as little check as 

 possible, and if it is intended to grow them into specimens 

 they should be kept moving just as fast as possible, as 

 the size of the plant does not depend on age or size of 

 crown, as it does upon length of frond. To procure this 

 the chief agencies are intensive culture and quick growth. 

 Most ferns can be materially assisted in this by the ap- 

 plication of liquid manures, but this should not be applied 

 unless the pots are pretty well filled with roots, otherwise 

 the residue not used by the plants would have a tendency 

 to clog the soil and cause sourness. 



Most ferns adapt themselves to be propagated by 

 division, but this is a slow method with some, and when 

 they come readily from spores need hardly be practiced. 

 Some, however, notably Nephrolepis, can be propagated 

 very rapidly by offsets and some, notably . Idiantum 

 Farlcyense, can only be propagated by division of the 

 crown. This latter variety is one of the most beautiful 

 ferns we have, but one that is rather difficult to grow. 

 One of the chief causes of failure with this variety* is the 

 lack of heat in winter. It requires a temperature of not 

 less than 65 degrees to keep it growing even slowly. 



All ferns require shade to a greater or less extent, but 

 it is a very common mistake to make the shade too heavy. 

 -This causes drawn-up, weakly growth, and in a good 

 many cases spoils the individual character of the fronds 

 from lack of proper development. All that is necessary 

 in applying shade is to prevent the strong sunlight from 

 burning or eating the color out of the fronds. Further 

 than to prevent this, shade is unnecessary. Fresh air. 

 also, plays an important part in the health of the frond 

 maintaining the health of the plants. 



