CULTIVATION 
13 
in some kinds the young growth is all made in spring, and if 
that is destroyed the beauty of the plant is lost till next year, 
and even then perfection can hardly be expected. 
Another important point is to collect only what can be 
carefully handled, rather than a large quantity to be abused. 
It is unfortunately too often the case that every pretty plant 
is grubbed out and taken away, carelessly handled in transit, 
and either left unplanted or huddled in anyhow, the number 
of plants being in excess of the number of pots or tins avail- 
able. In this way pretty forest streams are denuded of their 
ferns, without satisfaction to those who do it. 
There are about two hundred species of ferns known to 
occur wild in South Africa, taking as South Africa all south 
of the Zambesi. A few of these are more or less tropical in 
their natures, and require separate treatment, but by far the 
larger number are equally hardy wherever frost is absent, and 
a good many can stand several degrees of frost without injury, 
while others stand frost in so far as the crown is concerned, 
but are deciduous under that condition. 
In the cultivation of any fern it is well to give it conditions 
as nearly as possible the same as those in which it grows well, 
and to do this a close study has to be made of the different 
kinds in their native habitats. These habitats may be grouped 
as follows, and the means of copying these conditions are also 
indicated, viz. : 
1. Tropical or sub-tropical Forest Ferns . — These require 
both heat and moisture. A sunny greenhouse, shaded against 
bright sunshine, and including some spots where the sun never 
shines, best meets the requirements of this class. A night 
temperature not lower than 6 o° Fahr. is preferred, and if this 
can be obtained by retaining sun-heat the climate is better 
than where artificial heating has to be resorted to. At the 
same time, abundant shade and ventilation are necessary by 
day to prevent scorching. 
2. Forest Ferns . — These are kinds which may be found 
in shady spots, quite irrespective of moisture, though usually 
moist during summer and autumn, and with a reasonably 
