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CHAPTER III. 
PROPAGATION. 
The natural system of propagation for ferns, as well as 
for other plants, is by the seeds or spores. When care 
is used, this is not difficult, and Mr. Lowe furnishes us 
with every instruction that we can require to ensure 
success. He directs that a flat dish or saucer should be 
filled with the usual drainage of broken crocks to within 
one inch of the top, then sphagnum moss, in a perfectly 
dry state, should be taken, and broken into small pieces 
by rubbing between the hands, and a layer of the broken 
moss deposited upon the drainage ; that a mixture should 
be made, composed of equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, 
silver sand, and broken sphagnum, and the saucer filled 
with it to the top. Then the pan or saucer should be 
watered and left to evaporate for some hours. Then the 
spores may be scattered over the surface of the earth, 
and the air must be quickly excluded by covering with 
a hand-glass, and packing wet sphagnum tightly round 
the edge. It will not be necessary to repeat the water- 
ing for a considerable length of time. Care should be 
taken to select a fresh mature frond to furnish the 
spores. 
The time required for germination varies in different 
