65 
The Art of Multiplying Ferns . 
then put the little plant in its place and fill in round 
the roots and press moderately firm. If this is done in 
spring before the fronds have unrolled, you may be 
content to give a little water and put them in a frame 
and keep shut rather close until they begin to grow, 
giving very little water until they have made some 
progress. If you have no frame, the pots may be 
placed in any sheltered shady corner on a bed of coal 
ashes, and will almost take care of themselves. But the 
old plant remains, not much diminished in size by the 
removal of the offsets. Lay it on its side and care¬ 
fully pass the knife through the centre of it, and as it 
separates into two portions, you will probably see how 
to divide it yet further without using the knife again, 
securing to each piece a centre or crown, and a tuft of 
roots. Treat these in the same manner as the offsets ; 
or, if you have not rashly torn the plant to shreds, you 
may at once plant the divisions in the fernery, filling 
in round its roots with your best mixture of sandy 
peat, and pressing each firmly in its place. A little 
shade, and occasional sprinkling, will assist them to 
become established, and they will soon take care of 
themselves. 
If you were to proceed in a similar manner with the 
same plants in the summer time, when crowned with 
luxurious leafage, you would have to be as quick as 
possible about the work, and pot all the pieces and 
shut them up in a frame for a fortnight, to recover and 
make fresh roots, during that time taking care to 
sprinkle them frequently and also to avoid making the 
soil in the pots very wet, for too much moisture to 
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