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BRITISH FERNS. 
most remarkable of those cultivated in our hothouses for 
this peculiarity. Itself attaining a height of from five to 
six feet, the buds upon its fronds develop into plants 
bearing clusters of fronds a foot in length ; such flourish- 
ing plants must readily form a new colony. 
The easiest and most rapid way of propagation is by 
division of the caudex, but this refers chiefly to those 
species where the caudex is creeping. Such ferns as 
Polypodium Phegopteris, Dryopteris , and Robertianum 
are easily increased thus; the foreign allies of the Stru- 
thiopteris and Nephrolepis groups are equally suited for 
division ; in fact, Mr. Lowe tells us that a well-established 
plant of the last-named genus, placed in a half-peck 
flowerpot, will yield hundreds of plants in a few months, 
provided the creeping caudex be well pegged down. 
Ferns with an erect caudex increase much more slowly ; 
but, even here, the caudex not unfrequently puts up a 
branch or secondary tuft, which produces its crown of 
fronds, and forms a new plant for next year. 
All hardy ferns that increase by division of the caudex, 
should be divided just before they begin to grow ; if the 
operation be performed later, the first set of fronds are 
sure to perish. 
In dividing a fern with tufted and branched caudex, 
take the plant up carefully, loosening it so thoroughly 
about the root that there can be no need to lift it by the 
fronds ; shake off the soil, then pass a knife between each 
crown, and carefully disentangle the roots from those 
belonging to the other divisions. Shade the new plants 
from the sun for a few days. 
