Oct. 18th, 1884. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
105 
FERNS FROM SPORES, 
The following remarks on raising Ferns from spores 
are intended to apply to those sorts which are required 
in large quantities for general decorative purposes, 
find such as are grown for market. We find that the 
best time for collecting the fronds for spores is just as 
the spore cases begin to open; and it is best to take 
them from plants that have been grown in isolated 
positions as much as possible, as where several sorts 
within an inch of the top with any ordinary loam, 
care being taken that it does not contain any woody 
or other substance that is likely to contain fungus. 
The pots are then well watered, after which a little 
powdered charcoal is sprinkled over the surface (or 
burnt earth sifted through a fine sieve answers 
the same purpose). After the spores are sown each 
pot is covered with a piece of glass and placed in a 
saucer which is kept constantly filled with water, to 
prevent the pots requiring any surface watering. The 
when they are potted off into small pots, though in 
some cases it is r o, advisable to divide them singly, as 
they are more useful if grown in tufts of three or four 
together. This especially applies to such sorts as 
Pteris serrulata and its varieties, Pteris hastata, Pteris 
cretica and its varieties, Doryopteris palmata, and the 
Adiantums. Pteris argyrea, P. tricolor, P. longifolia, 
Cyrtomium falcatum, and any of the Gymnogrammas 
do best potted singly. All of the above sorts are very 
useful for the small fancy pots, now so popular, and 
CEOTON EVAN SIAN US. 
come in contact with one another the spores often get 
mixed. As the fronds are collected they should be 
folded up in papers and kept in a dry, warm place 
until required for sowing. Fern spores germinate 
most readily if sown in the spring, but where a high 
temperature can be maintained they may be sown at 
any period of the year, and if a succession of small 
plants is required, for any particular purpose, we 
would recommend that a sowing of the chief sorts 
should be made every month throughout the year. 
We usually sow the spores in 48-sized pots, filled to 
pots are placed in any convenient place where a 
good heat is maintained. A good position for them 
will be found by the pipes under a stage, where they 
can remain until the spores begin to germinate, when 
they should be placed in a position where they can get 
more light. As soon as they are developed sufficiently 
we prick them off in pots or boxes, the compost for 
which should consist of equal parts of loam and peat, 
with a liberal allowance of sand. 
Ferns v'hen pricked off in a small state can only be 
done in patches, and these require dividing again 
many other sorts might be included for the same 
purpose, but those enumerated are among the best. 
—H. 
Adiantum Lathomii, —This differs from Ad. scutum 
(of which it is a variety) from its having broader 
pinnules, and shorter stipes, and in the fronds being 
more recurved. It is one of the most beautiful of 
this lovely class of ferns, and should find a place in 
every collection. It should, moreover, commend itself 
to market growers, as it makes a very handsome plant 
for general decoration. 
