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Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
Some of the members of this genus require stove 
temperature all the year round, while others succeed 
best under greenhouse treatment. In that respect 
they are like Gymnogrammes and Cheilanthes, which, 
on account of either the woolly or the golden or 
silvery nature of the under-side of their foliage, 
they also resemble in general appearance. It is not 
even unusual to find on the same plant fronds the 
under-sides of which are adorned with quite different 
colours — white, creamy, pale, or deep yellow. The 
slender black-stalked species have much the appear- 
ance of Maidenhairs, and one often hears N, flavens 
and N. nivea so described. 
Most of the plants belonging to this genus are 
of a somewhat delicate nature, requiring more than 
usual care, especially during the winter, to preserve 
their foliage, which, from its constitution, in many 
cases possesses the property of retaining moisture and 
is therefore apt to decay. An important fact to 
notice is that, from whatever part of the globe they 
come, all the Nothochlsenas are invariably found on 
rocks much exposed to the sun, but so situated that 
the plants get a good supply of moisture at the 
roots. The majority of the species are of erect or 
semi-erect habit, although a few are particularly 
well adapted for growing in baskets of small or 
medium dimensions, in which they display their 
elegant fronds to advantage. In any case they should 
not be kept in a close or a moist place, a some- 
what airy situation being indispensable to all of them. 
If grown in pots, a mixture of good fibrous peat and 
small pieces of sandstone in about equal proportions 
is all that is required ; but great care must be taken 
to ensure perfect drainage, as stagnant water at the 
roots is highly injurious. Finely-sifted soil should 
be carefully avoided, as also should overhead 
syringings. 
ISTothochlaenas are almost invariably propagated 
from spores, which, in some cases, germinate freely, 
but many of the species may also be increased by 
division of the crowns, an operation that is best 
performed from March to May. 
