GENERAL HINTS ON FERN CULTURE. 
11 
“When Suminsky’s work on the development of Ferns first came into my hands, a strong desire to repeat 
his observations led me to seek for seedlings where they were most likely to be found, namely, in my own Fern- 
case, at Kew, and other conservatories ; but I soon found such sources were unsatisfactory, for, although 1 could 
obtain abundance of plants in which the organs of reproduction (.^) described by him were clearly discernible, 
yet I could rarely find the moving ciliated bodies said to perform such an important part in their development. 
There were, too, differences, evidently specific, that I could not comprehend, and which were a bar to anything 
like correct observation. It was therefore obvious, if the investigation were to be followed up successfully, that 
some means must be devised for raising an unlimited supply of any desired species. 
“ The usual method of sowing Fern-seed, by scattering it over damp, sandy mould, is very uncertain, for the 
mould itself will frequently contain the seeds of other species ; and even if the crop of plants come true to the 
sowing, it is difficult properly to separate sand and other extraneous matter from the young frond, previously to 
placing it under a microscope, without danger of injuring its delicate structure. My plan, therefore, was to 
procure some soft, porous, potter’s ware — material that should readily imbibe and retain moisture — upon w'hich 
to sow the seed desired to be raised. While searching for such material, I met with a peculiarly fine and soft 
sandstone admirably adapted for the purpose. This I prepared by breaking it into pieces of from one to two 
inches square and less than one inch thick, afterwards rendering the faces parallel and smooth by rubbing them 
on a flat stone. The reason for thus adjusting the size and smoothness of the pieces was simply to facilitate their 
being placed, for observation, on the stage of a microscope. Before sowing the seeds on these prepared pieces, 
they were baked in an oven, to destroy any organic life that might be lurking about them. They were then 
piled in dishes, moistened with distilled water, and covered with bell-glasses, preparatory to receiving the seed. 
The seed to be sown was obtained from a recently- gathered frond, laid fruiting side down, between two sheets of 
white paper, on the top of which was laid a book, or piece of board, to keep them in place. In the course of 
three or four days the seed was discharged from the capsules, and removed to the damp stone, by turning the 
stone down upon it, of course taking care that the seed did not lie too thickly. In about sixty hours germination 
had commenced, and henceforth daily progressed into maturity. In this way I have raised several species of 
Ferns without a failure; abundant means being thus afforded for observing their development from the com- 
mencement of germination up to the perfect-plant. 
“ I have been repeatedly told by those who have attempted to raise Ferns from seed, that I might sow what 
I pleased, but something I did not want would spring up. Most likely such had been the experience of my 
informants, although the reason for it W'as not obvious. My experiments proved the contrary, and demonstrated 
most unequivocally that, by observing the requisite conditions, any species may be raised, if the seed sown be 
resh and fully matured. 
“This principle of raising Ferns is applicable to several important purposes, besides that of the facility it 
affords for observing and studying the laws of their development. In the first place, many kinds now rare and 
valuable, or even unknown, in this country, from the difficulty of bringing them home, even with the protection 
of Mr. Ward’s glazed cases, might bo introduced with facility by sowing the seeds in the country where they 
grow on some suitable material, whether sand-stone, Bath brick, tile, wood, bark, or even charcoal ; wood or 
bark suggests itself in the case of such as are parasitic in their habits, and inclosing them in a small glass case — 
a case so much smaller than would be required for full-grown plants that it might be a cabin companion for a 
long voyage. Secondly, it is frequently desirable, even in this country, to raise particular species with some 
greater degree of certainty than, from various ill-understood causes, is generally found practicable. Again, 
experiments on this principle may bo tried in a great variety of ways, until the true habits of obscure species are 
accurately detei’mined. Some Ferns are impatient of removal : such may be raised from seed on suitable pieces 
of stone or wood, and afterwards introduced into pots or crevices in walls and rock- work prepared to receive them. 
“I conceive that a Ward’s case, artificially filled with such admirable sand-stone as my experiments have 
been made upon, but which I am sorry not to be able to tell you the source of, might be judiciously sown with 
seeds of small moisture-loving Ferns, and form one of the most exquisite of drawing-room or cottage conserva- 
tories, and which, in its gradual progress to maturity, would delight the eye, expand the understanding, and 
warm the heart in love and gratitude towards the Author of that portion of Creation which is truly the most 
beautiful, as -well as most essential, to our healthy and happy existence on earth — I mean the vegetable kingdom. 
“No kind of vegetation that I am acquainted with has ever struck me with such wonder, admiration, and 
delight, as the little crops of Ferns raised in the way I have now endeavoured to show ; and nothing would 
please me better than to see others deriving similar enjoyment from this simple and accessible source. Any one 
who makes a garden of this kind under a bell-glass, must observe that the material on which the seed is sown is 
so porous that the requisite amount of moisture will pass to the top, by capillary action, when applied to the 
bottom of it ; also, that with an abundance of light, the sun must not shine directly upon it.” 
