European Ferns. 
xviii 
but even these thrive admirably and produce a beautiful appearance if they have the protection 
of a Ward’s or window case. Nevertheless, many mistakes are made in the cultivation of these 
plants, apparently for the reason that this, although not difficult, requires, like most other 
things, a certain amount of attention. For instance, it is a mistake to suppose that for the 
cultivation of ferns nothing is required but to give them plenty of water and keep them in 
the shade. Acting upon this advice, the poor ferns are kept drenched with water until the soil 
becomes a perfect bog, and they are carefully excluded from even a chance streak of sun- 
shine ; the result of such treatment naturally is, that after a short existence they miserably 
perish. Another mistake into which people fall is based on the theory that ferns require 
plenty of heat, shade, and moisture ; and this is acted upon without the slightest qualification, 
no matter whether the ferns in question are natives of California or Cochin China, Botany Bay 
or Bengal. To a certain extent these views are right enough, but they require modification 
and special application in particular cases, in order that they may be acted upon successfully. 
It may safely be laid down as a general principle that moisture in abundance is essential 
to the well-being of all ferns, but provision must always be made to carry it away quickly, 
for if allowed to become stagnant about their roots, sickness and death will speedily follow. 
Again, ferns enjoy shade, but it is quite erroneous to suppose that in a state of nature 
they grow only in sunless spots, for some of the most delicate kinds are found growing on 
the sunny side of mountain slopes, although some species do grow most luxuriantly on a 
northern aspect. 
In the matter of heat, even with the strictly tropical kinds, cultivators usually err on 
the side of excess, the consequences of which are weakly growth and a plague of thrips ; for 
it may be taken for granted that when these insect pests abound, the atmosphere is too hot 
or too dry, or in all probability both, and the subject of their attacks must at once be removed 
to a cooler temperature. European ferns generally are easy to cultivate, and yet there are 
amongst their numbers some few species which are quite as difficult to grow creditably as 
any in the known world. Amongst these we may enumerate Asplenium Seclosii, A. Petrachce , 
and A. septentrionale , Cheilantlies fragrans , Notholcena Marantce , and Cctcrach officinarum, all 
of which require to be grown with a large admixture of limestone and a sunny exposure. On 
the other hand, many species grow in very varied situations : on barren spots fully exposed 
to the influence of the sun and all the winds that blow, or in some deep moist recess, almost 
hidden from the sun and scarcely ever disturbed by wind. Enough, however, has been said 
on generalities, and we shall now devote ourselves to a few specialities necessary to the successful 
cultivation of the ferns of Europe, and in doing so shall place our remarks under four heads, 
viz., Open Ground Culture, Pot Culture, Wardian Case Culture, and Propagation. 
Open Ground Culture. 
That ferns display the greatest beauty when thus treated none can deny, but many 
amateurs are deprived, through want of space, from indulging their tastes in this manner, and 
must perforce resort to pot culture. With many beginners in fern growing it is considered 
necessary to have a rockery to grow these plants upon, but why the majority of ferns should 
be considered to require rock-work it has never been our fate to discover. Such a situation 
is, we admit, absolutely necessary for the well-being of some few species, but too much weight 
is often given to the necessity of a good rockery for starting the cultivation of ferns and 
hardy plants. A well-made and properly planted rockery certainly adds greatly to the pleasure 
