Introduction. 
XXlll 
be obtained by practice. 2nd, Take into consideration the habit of each species in first planting, 
so that each may have sufficient space to develop its beauties without crowding out its neighbour 
in the struggle for life. 
Propagation. 
This is an interesting operation with all plants, and with ferns especially so, as there are 
several ways of effecting an increase in numbers. Some species produce small plants upon the 
upper side of the fronds. In this case the frond must be pegged down upon the surface of 
the pot, or any other similarly prepared surface, when the little plants will soon take root, and 
become independent members of the fern world. Others produce bulbils at the apex of 
their fronds, and these, when detached and properly cared for, rapidly assume the proportions 
of handsome plants. Again, others have creeping rhizomes and tufted growths ; both forms 
are readily increased by divisions. It is, however, to raising these plants from spores that the 
greatest interest is attached, and that the greatest amount of trouble and care is necessary. 
In setting about this, the first necessity is a fertile frond ; this should be secured before 
the spore cases have opened. Wrap it carefully in a large envelope, and place in a warm 
position for a few days ; by this time the cases will have burst, and the spores should at once 
be sown. By this method the operator secures the spores ; but in many instances the fronds 
are left on the plant until the spores have all floated away, and only spore cases are sown, 
which are just as capable of producing a crop of ferns as empty pods of peas would be of 
producing a crop of that vegetable. 
The pots for sowing the spores in should be well drained, and filled to within about two 
inches of the rim with rather stiff loam, which has been previously baked, the whole pressed 
down firm, and thoroughly soaked with water. After the water has passed away the spores 
must be carefully dusted upon the surface, and a piece of glass or a bell-glass placed over 
them. Nothing more will be necessary but to keep the soil in as near the same state of 
moisture as possible until the spores germinate. 
Baked soil is preferable for raising ferns, on account of that process killing all seeds, 
worms, or anything obnoxious which would escape detection, small worms being specially 
troublesome amongst young ferns. It may be a matter of surprise that we recommend stiff 
loam for these plants in their most delicate stage or period of life ; this, however, is the teaching 
of experience. We have tried various soils for this purpose in the course of our practice, and 
have invariably had the greatest success and returns from pure loam. This probably arises 
from the fact of its preserving a more uniform degree of moisture than any lighter kinds ; 
but the young ferns do not like stiff loam long, and as soon as they begin to make little 
fronds they are best transplanted into the compost already recommended for the mature 
plants. 
There is a great deal of uncertainty respecting the length of time the spores of different 
species take to germinate ; some commence to grow in a few days, others require weeks, whilst 
some will remain dormant for twelve months. It is best to arrange, if possible, that the spores 
do not begin to germinate late in the autumn, as they are very apt to damp off through the 
winter months. If the young plants are very much crowded, as in all probability they 
will be, remove them with a sharp-pointed stick in little clumps, and transplant them into 
other pots where they will have room to spread. If this is not done, the probability is that 
more than half their numbers will perish. This thinning should be repeated as occasion may 
require until they make fronds and are sufficiently large to be placed singly in small pots. Up 
