XXIV 
European Ferns. 
to this time the young plants require great care and attention in the matter of water and 
air, but after a few fronds are developed, they will conform to the ordinary treatment 
Fern spores germinate most rapidly in a close, moist, and warm atmosphere, and those 
wishing to raise them without such convenience will find a Wardian case or a close cool frame 
the next best resource. But under these conditions very few other than species from temperate 
regions will be likely to germinate, and they will remain dormant a much longer time than 
when sown in heat. 
The ferns of temperate regions appear to be well-nigh exempt from the insect pests 
their tropical relatives are subject to ; occasionally, however, they suffer from the attacks of 
thrips, which, feeding upon the cuticle, very soon render the plant unsightly ; this is a sure 
sign the plant is suffering in health, most probably from being in a situation both too hot 
and dry. Again, brown scale shows itself at times, but this is usually when the ferns are 
grown in a vinery with other plants to which the parasites really belong. In summer also 
the young fronds take the fancy of the green fly, but this is not of frequent occurrence. The 
scale must be carefully picked off when seen, and a little fumigation with tobacco will soon 
induce the other pests to desert. 
Besides insects, however, there are other enemies to hardy ferns, to which the genus Zonites 
contributes several members, Z. alliaria, Z. cellaria, and Z. purus being the most destructive. 
These small snails, combined with several of the slugs, such as Liniax jlava, L. agrestis, 
L. variegatus , and some others, must be sharply looked after, in the open-ground fernery 
especially, or they will commit sad havoc amongst the choice and rare kinds. Hand-picking 
in the early morning and in the evening will materially assist in clearing out these marauders, 
whilst some tender lettuce leaves will entice others from their lurking-places, where otherwise 
they might elude the most vigilant observer. 
ECONOMIC PROPERTIES. 
When we state that the economic properties of ferns are for the most part “ conspicuous 
by their absence,” we may seem to lay ourselves open to a charge of plagiarism ; as it may 
be thought that we are imitating the old author who, having headed a chapter “Of the Snakes 
of Iceland,” began and ended it with the concise statement, “There are no snakes in Iceland.” 
But although it cannot be asserted that the useful properties of this group of plants are of such 
importance as to entitle the ferns to consideration on this ground, and although no one species 
stands out prominently as of value to mankind either from its medical or economic qualities, we 
shall nevertheless find — as, indeed, is only to be expected in a group including so large a number 
of species — that some of them have attained at any rate a local reputation, and have been 
employed in various ways for the benefit of mankind. Like the peacock in the old fable, whose 
beauty compensated for the harshness of its voice, the elegance and gracefulness of ferns is 
quite sufficient to entitle them to a high place in our regard ; and it may be remarked that 
the members of one of the most popular groups of cultivated plants, the Orchidacece , with all 
their quaint variety of form and richness of colour, are equally remarkable for the absence of 
any markedly useful qualities. It would, indeed, demand no very great effort of the imagination, 
no very daring flight of fancy to suppose that the law of compensation works to some extent in the 
vegetable world; at any rate it is certain that while such important groups of plants as the Cross- 
bearers ( CrucifercB ), Umbcllifers ( U inbellifercd), and Grasses {Grand need), from which we obtain so 
many of our most important vegetables, and to the last-named of which we are indebted for all 
