i6 
FERNS AND FERNERIES. 
carried by the wind to a damp situation, which only 
delays the process, the elastic ring of each sporangium 
splits its own covering, causing the spores to fall as 
almost impalpable dust (fig. 9, c, and figs. 9, 10, d). If 
it is desired to collect these sporangia and spores, a 
piece of white paper about twenty inches by twelve 
inches must be placed in a dry and clean drawer, the 
fertile frond of the fern is then laid with the under (i.e. 
the fertile) side next to the paper; after a few days 
a brown dust will be noticed, this is the sporangia and 
spores, which can be collected and preserved in a pill¬ 
box for future observation and use. 
In raising ferns from the spores I have found it most 
convenient to use small pieces of perfectly clean pumice- 
stone, dust the spores over them, place in flower-pots 
half filled with red sand, cover with squares of glass, 
embed the pots in the earth quite three-fourths of their 
depth, choosing if possible a damp, sheltered, north-west 
aspect. In any case do not make choice of a south or 
south-east aspect. Water daily without removing the 
glass, but occasionally, say once a week, when the weather 
is dry , remove it, and wipe off with a clean cloth any 
