PROPAGATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURE. 31 
or any other situations within doors where they can be 
moderately lighted. 
As a general rule, Ferns under cultivation do not require 
any manure. The most proper soil for Ferns grown in 
pots or cases, consists of the native earths called peat or 
bog earth, and sandy loam, mixed in about equal propor¬ 
tions, with a further admixture equal to an eighth of the 
whole mass for the coarser sorts, and of a fourth of the 
whole mass for the more delicate sorts, of any pure granu¬ 
lated silicious matter, which is used for the purpose of 
preventing the too close adhesion and consolidation of the 
particles; the clean white sand called Reigate sand is 
that most generally employed. They are not benefited by 
manure. 
The supply of water to Ferns under artificial conditions 
is a very essential matter; they must never lack moisture, 
or their fragile texture shrinks as before a burning blast; 
nor, with few exceptions, must the soil about them be kept 
continually wet with stagnant water; indeed, stagnant 
water is in all cases much better avoided. 
