Fern Culture.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 960, 25 July 1890, Page 4

Fern Culture.

As many of our readers are doubtless greatly interested in the culture of ferns and their propagation by seed, or, properly speaking, by spores, the following useful method will be well worth taking a note of. The best method of raising spores may be very simply described. In a pot—the ordinary red clay pot is the best to use—there should be a drainage of ‘ crocks’ or broken bricks to about half its depth, beginning with a concave crock over the hole of the pot, putting the next largest pieces over this, and the smallest. particles and debris last. Then upon this thick stratum of drainage pnt in a layer of compost, about half the depth of the drainage, consisting of two parts of peat, two parts of silver sand, and one part of good loam—each part representing a fifth of the whole. With this may be mixed some sandstone, or soft red briok crashed into very small pieces ; or it is, perhaps, better that the crashed brick or sandstone should bo thinly scatttered over the entire surfaoe of the compost of peat, sand and loam. After this the compost shonld be watered with a fine rose until the mass is moistened through. Upon the surface should be scattered tho spores from a ripe frond, aud a glass placed over the whole. If the pot be a red clay one it may be covered by a piece of flat glass which will fit exactly to the rim • and a bell* glass shade or other glass covering may bo used, according to the size or shape of the pot or stand. When all is finished, the spores sown, and the glass covering put on, the pot must be kept in a dark place. Care should

bo taken that the compost is not allowed to got too wet or soddened—though it must be kept perpetually moist; not by watering the surface, for that would disturb the spores, but by standing the pot in a pan of water 2in or 3in in depth -for a short time. Ventilation should be given occasionally by taking off the glass covering for a short time. The glass should then be wiped free from moisfure ; but this should be very carefully done, so as not to expose the germinating spores to any hot, dry currents of air. After a time, germination having commenced, little thin, filmy, leaf-like patches will be obsoived spreading over the surface of the soil in the pot. • These are the ‘ germ scales,’ or, as they are strictly named, the prothallia—plural of prothallns —produced by the spores. If they are found to have been sown too thickly, and the prothallia are crowding each other, they must be thinned, and those taken out—on little knolls of earth —can be moved tj another pot, where, on a similarly prepared compost to that already suggested for the first sowing of the spores, they may be left free to grow. The process of growth is, in the great majority of species, slow. At tho end of a year from sowing the Bporea they have only become diminutive plants, and their progress to maturity is gradual. As they begin however to exhibit the familiar ferny forms, a little more light and air should be given to them. It is a most interesting study to watch, from time to time, by means of a magnifying glass, the gradual growth of the spores. If heat, through the agency of the plant-stove or the hot-house, be used in the process of germination, the latter will, of course, be very materially quickened. Indeed, for the spores of some of the ferns from the tropics, heat is absolutely necessary to induce germination. It will often be found, however, that the natural conditions for the germination of spores provided in the fernhouse, in tho case, or in damp and shady clefts of the garden rockery, will cause these infinitesimal life germs to start into existence. On damp earth, on the moist surfaces of the stones, on tho earthenware aides of fern-pots, and even on the very stone walls of the fern-houße, they will oftentimes grow. It is, indeed, most curions to note the beantiful manner in which the green germ life of ferns appears almost everywhere within the neighbour, hood of the parent plants, wafted thither in atomic forms which are borne into the air by the lightest breath of wind. Wonderful, indeed, is the power and vitality of those marvellous atoms. Although the adiantums are probably the most useful and beautiful of all the ferns, it is well to cultivate some of the many other species and varieties ; and we have many very interesting ones in this and the neighbouring colonies, which can be obtained without difficulty. For amateurs, the cultivation of this class of plants offers a most fascinating study and presents no difficulties ; but the amateur, when he or sho begins, must creep at first, and not expect to produce all at onoo magnificent specimens like those sometimes exhibited at some of our exhibitions. In erecting a bushhouse, cover it with Chinese blinds, if you can obtain them, for this makes about the best covering it is possible to have. If in summer the sun’s rays appear to penetrate too much, then cover over with some common scrim, and this will be ample. The sides may bp made with the ordinary sugar baskets, 'as generally used, or any other pretty strong material, to break the force of heavy winds. Remember that ferns require plenty of air, but dislike heavy winds. As the sun is very hot at midday, be careful that delicate plants are sufficiently protected without making the shading too heavy.