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TO CULTIVATE STOVE FERNS. 
The following- is a pretty successful method of raising Stove Ferns from seed:— 
Fill any convenient sized pot with sandy peat earth, and on the top allow a few 
pieces to rise above the rest. 
When this is done, merely shake the seeds on the top and sides of these pieces. 
It will be readily understood that the minuteness of the seeds require this precaution, 
for by sowing them in a pot on a level surface, the whole of the seed would be sub* 
jected to the same kind of treatment, which might happen to be either too wet or 
too dry ; indeed, it is not impossible, even with the greatest care, that they may be 
occasionally both. 
The soil in which the seed is sown ought to be scalded with boiling water, in 
order to kill any seeds of the common hardy kinds that may accidentally have found 
their way into the soil, such as Aspidium filioc-mass , and some others, which will, 
even with this precaution, not unfrequently intrude themsel ves. 
They seldom succeed so well in a close frame as in a cool part of the stove, where 
evaporation can be most effectually prevented, and will by no means endure to be 
continually kept close under bell glasses. 
Water must never be applied to the surface of the pots, but by keeping the pots in 
feeders which contain a little water, they will generally be found to keep themselves 
sufficiently moist. 
These few excellent observations were kindly furnished to us some time ago by 
Mr. Marnock, formerly gardener at Bretton Hall, but now curator of the Botanical 
and Horticultural Gardens in progress at Sheffield. We have practised it, to our 
most perfect satisfaction, in our stove at Chatsworth. 
