30 ASPLENIUM FONTANUM. 
going down among the broken bricks. When the 
drainage is thus all right, the plants may be watered 
more freely and safely. When shifting these plants into 
larger pots the drainage should be as before directed, 
and the crowns of the plants should be kept consider- 
ably higher than the rim of the pots. This is an 
essential. 
One of the greatest points in the culture and keeping 
these scarce and choice Ferns, is carefully to give them 
water, and to shade them when needed, and not to 
disturb them so long as they are doing well. The out- 
side of the pots the specimens stand in should be 
washed occasionally, as well as the pans which the pots 
stand in. 
Ferns, like other plants, sometimes become infested 
with Aphides, to destroy which they should be fumigated 
with tobacco-smoke. 
When specimens are seeming to tire of their soil, or 
are become too large, then is the best time for division, 
or to make a number of plants out of one scarce one, 
for not till then would we divide a fine specimen of a 
Fern. 
