CULTIVATION IN HOTHOUSES. 
4 7 
mould and peat-earth, with plenty of silver-sand, all 
mixed together, is as useful for stove ferns as for those 
of the greenhouse and the garden. 
Such ferns as are grown in pots will require frequent 
repotting. Seedlings should have the pots changed thrice 
in the year; mature plants should he repotted twice, 
once in spring and once in early autumn. Attend care- 
fully to the drainage of the pots, giving each plenty of 
potsherds, and then a layer of sphagnum, filling to within 
half an inch of the brim with the compost. In repot- 
ting a fern, put one hand on the surface of the earth in 
the pot, letting the stem or stems of the ferns be steadied 
between the fingers, then reverse the pot, press upon the 
hole at the end till the ball of earth containing the fern 
roots is thrust out, — pick all the stones and drainage 
from about the roots, and push away as much of the old 
earth as is easily removed, thus loosening the roots; the 
drainage being already placed in the new pot, and a little 
of the compost, the fern may be placed therein, and 
more compost pressed down firmly on all sides. Newly- 
potted ferns should be shaded for a time. Enough water 
must be given to them thoroughly to penetrate the old 
ball of earth. 
Eerns with creeping caudices, especially the dwarf 
kinds, will grow well upon the rock-work, and, in the 
course of two or three years, will not only clothe the rock, 
but form beautiful and varied little landscapes. Ferns 
in pots will be placed on stages, their position being de- 
cided by their size and manner of growth. Fern-pillars 
and fern-baskets will make additional ornaments for the 
fern house, and, as the fern-pillars are a novelty, we will 
proceed to describe them, as advertised by the inventor, 
Mr. J. Tyerman, Curator of the Liverpool Botanic 
Gardens. 
