2 
The Ferns of South Africa. 
Watering must, however, be understood as quite a different 
thing from syringing, or otherwise damping the foliage, which may 
be done lightly two or three times a day all over with benefit. 
Almost all the ferns described hereafter as being found in the forest 
can be subjected to the above treatment, but a few grow only 
in the dampest, and most constantly moist spots, and to get these 
to do well the moist condition is an absolute necessity, and can 
best be provided by growing them in a shady corner under a close 
bell-glass, or in a glass case, and well do they repay the extra 
trouble. Among these are the filmy ferns, and Gymnogramme 
lanceolata, Polypodium sinuatum , and Vittaria lineata. Hemitelia 
comes naturally within this group, and hence the difficulty 
generally experienced in growing it. To succeed with it the 
best method is to begin with quite a young plant, and keep it 
always healthy and accustomed to your conditions, but, if brought 
in from the forest when full grown, the probability is that it will 
keep alive for one season only, or as long as the original sap 
remains in it, and then die down and never make another start. 
It never does well in the open air here, the air being too dry ; 
and it is never seen so pretty or luxuriant in cultivation as in the 
wild state. 
Another group of ferns grow above the forest ; and most of 
them, requiring alternate shower and sunshine, are easily culti- 
vated, but a few are most obstinate. The Gleichenias especially 
are difficult to start, and have long been so regarded in England, 
and this applies to some other ferns with long wiry rhizomes, such 
as Pteris aquilina , and Polypodium incanum. The royal road to 
success in this case is to obtain young seedling plants which are 
easily managed. 
Quite a different class of ferns are those which grow only on 
rocks, and generally away from the forest ; but here, again, the 
habitat gives a clue to cultivation. They are seldom found on the 
Kranzes, or other perpendicular rocks, but grow on the nearly flat, 
bare, exposed tops of huge rock masses, or among the dust 
gathered under any loose stones lying on this. They seldom get 
rain, and when they do, the rock absorbs all directly, and the wind 
