Cultivation. 
i 
to a week’s heavy rain without perfect drainage. They may be 
well grown under the shade of trees, or under a vine trellis, but in 
such positions they seldom obtain sufficient shelter from wind. If 
planted in a bed it should be deeply dug before planting, and, if 
possible, given some drainage, for it must be remembered that, 
though many ferns grow naturally along the forest streams, and in 
places where their roots are always either in, or near, the water, still 
they will only grow if the water is always running, or at least mov- 
ing, and to plant them in stagnant water is to arrange their certain 
death. For soil they are not very particular. Leaf-mould is of 
course best, but in the absence of that, good loam, loam and sand, 
loam and well rotted tan refuse, or well rotted stable litter, brick 
dust, or almost any other soil which does not contain clay, iron- 
gravel, or kraal manure will do. For pot culture, earthenware 
pans, or pots, where procurable are best, but tins answer the pur- 
pose equally well if properly drained. This drainage is managed 
by driving several holes through the bottom of the tin, above this 
place a layer two inches deep of broken bricks, then a thin layer 
of moss, or fallen tree leaves, and above that the soil. In English 
nurseries broken flower pots are used for covering the holes, and 
they are certainly the best thing, but here they are too expensive, 
and bricks answer nearly as well. 
The soil should be as described above, and perhaps the best 
test of its suitability is that it can dry again quickly after rain, for 
it is easy to give more water, but most difficult to make a satur- 
ated plant dry. The tin or pot should be about the size of the 
root, but not much larger, or the soil will get sour before the plant 
can utilise it. The best sign of perfect health is an abundant crop 
of young growing roots pushing their way through among the 
broken bricks at the bottom, and this may also be taken as notice 
that the plant wants a larger tin. 
Be careful in watering to give only when required, which may 
be twice a-day with one plant, and once in two weeks with another 
standing beside it. Knowing when they are dry comes only by 
practice ; but it is seldom that a fern lover, who does not know 
this, can keep his ferns long in good health. 
