372 
FERNS : BRITISH AND FOREIGN. 
It should always be soft, or, if hard, should be aerated 
in open tanks ; rain-water is best, but if collected 
from the roofs of hothouses, care must be taken that it 
does not become impure by the decomposition of the 
paint and putty, which is of frequent occurrence, and 
in time it so impregnates the water as to cover the 
foliage of the plants, when often syringed, with a thin 
film, that gives them a dull look ; care should also 
be taken that the temperature of the water should not 
be less than 50°, especially in winter. Syringing is 
made an operation of great importance in guide- 
books on cultivation, and is readily accepted by the 
unskilled amateur as necessary, and being amusing, 
is often carried out in the extreme, to the injury of 
the plants. An amateur remarked not long ago, 
“ Now we have got such a nice lady's syringe, it is 
quite a delight to use it.” Another remarked, “ I 
every day regularly water, syringe, and sponge my pet 
Adiantums, but with all my attention they are getting 
of a brown colour, surely your plants (at Kew) must 
have great attention to keep them so green.” The 
lady syringer is told that many of the plants before her 
have been in the same pots for several years, and that 
they get water when dry, and are never syringed 
or sponged, unless for removing insects when they 
appear. 
From what has now been stated, an amateur’s 
successful cultivation of Ferns simply depends on 
proper soil and potting, careful watering, placing in a 
quiet, moist atmosphere, keeping down temperature in 
summer by shading, and to avoid currents of dry ah, 
and in winter to maintain the proper temperature, 
according to the nature of the plants, by means of 
