Ferns in Pots. 
31 
next size larger without breaking their balls of roots, 
and let the operation be performed in precisely the 
same manner as already described. Take off the 
shading, and give the plants very much air both day and 
night for another month. During very bright sunshine 
shade them for an hour or two; but let them have the 
sunshine morning and evening, and the night dew. 
Continue to water as before, but give less and less, so 
that by the 1st of October they will be watered only 
once a week. After that date, until frost occurs, shut 
them up at night, take off the light all day, and once 
a week pour water gently over their crowns, sufficient 
to make the crowns moist, but not to sodden the soil 
in the pots. When frost occurs, throw a few mats on 
the light; if the frost increases in severity, take off 
the light, and strew dry hay amongst the plants, taking 
particular care to cover their crowns with this protect¬ 
ing material. Put the lights on, lay some dry straw or 
hay on the glass, and then lay a good mat over all. 
If you neglect these precautions, you will probably 
not lose any of your plants, for they are all hardy; 
but the effect of frost upon them will be that they will 
be a week or two later in growing in spring than if they 
had been protected, and so I must insist on protection 
as necessary. 
Whenever the weather is mild, or the frost only 
amounts to a few degrees at night, continue to pour alittle 
water over the crowns once a week; in fact, that operation 
is only to be suspended when the weather is really severe. 
Give air as often as possible, never allow them to become 
thoroughly wet, and keep them safe from being frozen. 
