52 
twice or three times every fine day in summer; and once or 
oftener, in winter; regulating the extent of such over-head wa- 
terings according to the weather or strength of the ferns. Those 
who possess a greenhouse only may there cultivate the species 
suitable thereto. There the pots should be kept moist; but in 
summer, the plants will not require over-head watering more 
than three times a week. In winter the pots should be kept 
more dry, and the plants, in this season, require no over-head 
watering. Many of the species, kept both in stove and green- 
house will be benefited by being placed for a few weeks, during 
summer, in a cold frame, in a shaded situation, where the lights 
can be drawn off during the night, and in cloudy weather. 
The requisite soil, for potting the stronger growing kinds, is 
half peat and half loam, mixed with a fourth part of sharp sand. 
And for the smaller kinds peat and sand; using at all times 
plenty of drainers. Most of those ferns which require house 
protection, may be readily increased by being divided; and of 
several species, self sown plants will be found in profusion in the 
pots. Division may be effected at all seasons; spring and au- 
tumn are, however, to be preferred. In the operation of potting 
Ferns, place a piece of broken pot on each side of the root; 
pressing with them, a little soil against the plant; then fill the 
pot with the soil pressed down rather firmly. When large spe- 
cimens are desired, remove into larger sized pots as often as the 
roots get matted, but before they begin to decay ; using at each 
successive shifting, coarser soil; that for the larger sized pots, 
being merely turfy soil chopped up with the spade, and mixed 
with some coarse drainers, to allow the water to pass off more 
freely. The roots of some of the larger plants w ill occasionally 
perish, from the soil becoming sour, from continued waterings. 
These must be divested of all decayed roots, have their balls 
reduced, and repotted into smaller pots, where they will soon 
make fresh roots. The small and more delicate species of 
hardy ferns are most successfully cultivated in small pots, placed 
among the Alpine plants. Some require the protection of a 
cold frame during winter. They may be increased by dividing 
at any time from spring to midsummer. Five or six species of 
this description, although natives of cold climates, require, from 
the shelter and warmth of their native habitats, to be grown 
along with the stove and greenhouse species. The stronger 
