62 
THE FERN WORLD 
more parts joined at their bases. Sometimes these clusters, 
although connected, stand somewhat apart from each other. 
In either case, if the point of connexion be divided by a 
sharp knife, each part will retain a separate existence, and 
can be separately cultivated. Where Ferns have creeping 
rhizomas it will be found that at intervals, as the plant 
travels, little buds appear, which ultimately spring into 
fronds. All along the under-surface of the rhizomas fibrous 
rootlets shoot downwards into the earth. The rootlets 
are more thickly clustered just underneath the parts of 
the rhizomas which bear the buds already alluded to. As 
the buds develop, the rootlets underneath multiply, as if 
to strengthen and maintain the semi-independence of the 
offshooting frond. Naturally the independence of these 
offshoots increases as they increase in size, and increase the 
number of their rootlets. If the rhizoma, therefore, be 
severed on each side of such a bud, or frond, the latter, 
with its bit of rhizoma and its fibrous trailing rootlets, 
becomes the nucleus of a separate Fern, and its hardiness 
and capacity for immediate and vigorous growth will be 
proportioned to the strength and abundance of its subjacent 
rootlets. 
In these ways can Ferns be artificially multiplied, and 
though the process may be accomplished at almost any time 
of the year, the best time is the season of greatest vigour, 
namely, the spring, and before the fronds have actually 
started into growth. 
There are some Ferns, however, which bear upon their 
fronds, sometimes at their apex, and sometimes at the point 
of junction of rachis and pinna, little offsets, or buds, which, 
as they grow, are found to be separate plants, with crowns 
and tiny sets of fronds. When these have grown to a size 
which admits of their being removed, they can be separated by 
severing — on each side of them — with the aid of a knife, the 
