4 
THE BOOK OF 
finer the development. On the other hand, the more light 
we can give the better, since light is with Ferns, as with 
all vegetation, absolutely necessary ; and as regards drought, 
drainage, as we have repeatedly stated elsewhere, must be 
attended to, as a stagnant soil means disease and death to 
the Ferns implanted therein. These are the fundamental 
principles of success, and now to other considerations. 
First and foremost, we strongly advocate single crown 
culture as far as possible, that is, keeping a Fern to one 
centre of growth, and not permitting it to form a crowd by 
means of its offsets. The shuttlecock section of Ferns, or those 
which send up their fronds in a circle round a central core, 
are very apt to develop young plants from the bases of the 
fronds outside the circle, and these if left alone speedily assume 
adult size, and in so doing jostle their parents, mix up their 
fronds together, battle for existence underground with their 
roots, and, as a result, all the individuals to a certain extent 
are dwarfed, while the consequent crowding of the fronds 
detracts from their beauty and grace. A single crown kept 
so by persistent removal of such youngsters will have fronds 
double the size, and with their varietal characters doubly 
enhanced, so that a magnificent symmetrical circle of heavily- 
tasselled 4 feet fronds replaces an unsightly 2 feet clump of 
greatly inferior character. With many Ferns this eliminating 
process eventually results in a non-production of further offsets, 
but in others the central crown itself splits gradually into 
two, and in this case it is necessary to wait until they get 
quite independent, when they can be divided with the aid 
of a knife and gentle pressure. Ferns with creeping roots, 
such as the Polypodies, are obviously not open to such 
treatment, but the simple fact that they travel prevents that 
struggle for existence at the roots, and all that is needful 
is to plant them in pans instead of pots, and so facilitate 
their ramb(es and help their development. 
Propagation. 
Obviously a simple means of propagation exists in these 
offsets we have alluded to. Each one, if carefully detached, 
will be found to have its own little bunch of roots, and all 
that is needed is to plant them in good compost and leave 
them alone to establish themselves, and so with the larger 
established crowns. Many varieties, especially of the Shield 
Ferns (Polystichum), bear bulbils or little plants on the 
fronds, and these only require layering to take root. The 
best plan is to sever the frond and peg it down entire 
