APPENDIX. 
187 
they were baked in an oven to destroy any 
organic life that might he lurking about them. 
They were then piled in dishes, moistened with 
distilled water, and covered with bell-glasses, 
preparatory to receiving the seed. The seed to 
be sown was obtained from a recently gathered 
frond laid fruiting side down, between two sheets 
of white paper, on the top of which was laid a 
book or piece of board to keep them in place. 
In the course of three or four days the seed was 
discharged from the capsules, and removed to the 
damp stone by turning the stone down upon it, 
of course taking care that the seed did not lie 
too thickly. In about sixty hours germination 
had commenced, and thenceforth daily progressed 
into maturity. In this way I have raised several 
species of ferns without a failure ; abundant 
means being thus afforded for observing their 
development from the commencement of germi- 
nation up to the perfect plant. 
I have been repeatedly told by those who have 
attempted to raise ferns from seed, that I might 
sow what I pleased, but something I did not 
want would spring up. Most likely such had 
been the experience of my informants, although 
the reason for it was not obvious. My experi- 
ments proved the contrary, and demonstrated 
most unequivocally, that, by observing the requi- 
