APPENDIX. 
CULTIVATION OF FERNS GENERALLY. 
This tribe of plants was, but a few years ago, scarcely known in cultivation. 
Lately, however, it has been considerably sought after ; and as little has hitherto 
been written on the culture of Ferns, or the selection of species, the following 
general observations will, I trust, be acceptable. It is right to observe, that for 
a great part of the list, and some of the remarks which follow, I am indebted to 
Mr. Bevis, of the Botanic Garden, Regent’s Park, a well-known and ardent 
cultivator of the Ferns. 
Sowing . — For sowing Fern-seed the spring of the year is to be preferred. The 
pots in which it is to be sown should be of a small size (say forty-eights), both for 
the sake of convenience, and because they hold less moisture, and allow a better 
circulation. Fill the pots half full of fine-broken potsherds ; that is, garden 
pots broken into small pieces. Over these lay a portion of Sphagnum, or other 
porous moss ; and then fill the pot to within half an inch of the top, with soil 
prepared in the following manner : — Take three parts of loose or unadhesive peat 
earth (that is to be chosen which lies about an inch beneath the surface, where it 
is not too much decayed) ; put it into a pan of boiling water to kill any vegetable 
matter that may be alive, or small worms, which become very troublesome as the 
Fern-seeds vegetate ; then let it get dry enough to rub through the hand, but not 
very finely ; to this powdered peat add one third of white sand, mixing both 
articles well together. When the pots are filled to within half an inch of the top, 
give them a little water, on which sow the seeds, taking care not to water them 
afterwards over the top. The seeds should be sown thinly — if thickly sown, or 
too much water be given, they are apt to fog, or kill each other, before they are 
large enough for potting or pricking off. After sowing, lay a piece of common 
glass over the top of the pot, and set it in a saucer, taking care not to let the 
saucer be without water, and place it in a light but shaded place. WTien the 
plants have shown the first leaf, a little air may be admitted — after which, should 
they be too thick, they may be thinned by taking them up in small patches with 
the point of a knife, and transplanting them into another pot, prepared as the 
former, but made fine by sifting the soil ; when large enough they may be divided 
a second time. Many persons mix a great portion of broken brick in the seed 
pot, upon which the seeds vegetate well, but the difficulty of transplanting there- 
from is very great. It is of course necessary to know whether the species belong 
to the greenhouse or stove, that the vegetating seed may be placed in a congenial 
climate, observing only that a dry air and direct sunshine are to be as much as 
possible avoided. 
After-cultivation . — Ferns of different habit require a different treatment. 
This is in some degree accordant with their natural soil and places of growth, yet 
not wholly so. Many of the British Ferns, although they naturally live in 
bleak and exposed situations, yet when under culture require some degree of 
protection. So also, notwithstanding some of them seem naturally to prefer the 
