PROPAGATING FERNS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3652, 29 March 1883, Page 4

PROPAGATING FERNS.

Sandford, in his work on " Exotic Ferns," mentions the following genera as amongst the most difficult to obtain from spores: —

Augiopteris, Marattias, Gleichenias, Todeas, Hymeiiophyllums, Platyceriuins, Trichomanes, and a few others, while some genera grow very freely, and a few make their appearance throughout the house when once grown. The best way to raise them from spores is to sow them iv pots or pans ou little crumb-like pieces of peat ; placed in a close case, they will soon germinate. When large enough to handle, they should lie pricked oil in a mixture of peat and sand, and ultimately potted into single pots. Some of the species of Adiautum, Asplcnium, Blechnum, Gymiiogrannua,aiid Pteris, grow as freely as weeds, and some of the common species of some genera, aro sure to make their appearance with the more choice ones; and in some cases not one of the species supposed to have been sown will appear, but all will be of some other species. There does not appear to be any authentic information on the fertilisation of ferns, but it is jr ujiei.dly admitted to l>_ in the pi-otliullus ntate. In some species there are a great many varieties, and most of them come true from spores. Pteris serrulata is one of the most prolific in this way. It is really astonishing to see the two extremes—one with a broad-crested apex, while another terminates in a threadlike tail. Some of the Gyninograuimas terminate in crested forms, and arc of garden origin, while a few others are imported from their native haunts ; such, for instance, as Microlopia hirta cristata and a few others. Ferns were said formerly not to have seeds or spores, although Gerard knew in his time that they had spores or seeds. There was a great deal of superstition about fern seeds for many ages. Propagation by division is easily effected with ail the creeping rhizomatous species and several of the erectgrowing ones. When divided they should be kept rather close until they begin to grow, when they may be treated like the established ones. In the species which form the young plants on the fronds, they should be pegged to the soil and rooted before being separated from the parent. There are a few which produce the young plants at the base of the frond, which when mature should be taken off and put into a pot, with the base of the frond ou the surface of the soil, and should be kept close until rooted, when they may be treated as established plants.