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simply th is: that while the power of destructive
natural agents is restrained, that of beneficial natural
agents is retained, and its efficacy ensured.
Carrying out the system, nothing is more easy than
to raise any species of Fern from the seed, which
every herbarium affords abundant opportunity of procuring
; and thus Ferns from every country may be
assembled in our houses, with even less trouble than
by transporting the roots in cases. The seeds should
be first detached from the fi'ond by gently rubbing
the masses of thecae, and shaken on a common
dinner-plate ; then, having procured some light sandy
earth, crumble it on the plate, and shake it about for
a minute or two, when all the seeds will be found
adhering to the little masses of earth; spread this
earth, as lightly as may be, over other light sandy or
loamy earth, either in a garden or in a flower pot,
in doors or out, always taking care very carefully to
cover the seed with a bell-glass, or other glass cover,
excluding, as completely as possible, communication
with the outer air. In a few weeks the young ferns
will come up abundantly, in a sinuous horizontal
frond, closely resembling that of Marchantía; but in a
very short time other fronds will succeed, having the
true characters of Ferns.
; ;
Fully believing that our beautiful Ferns will become
ere long the denizens of our drawing-rooms,
and knowing that in many instances they are already
so—believing also that many who are lovers of
Nature, but, at the same time, not technical botanists,
will be glad of the ready means which I trust this
work will afford them of obtaining the names of the
species they procure, I have ventured on making my
public appearance in a science in w’hich I am now
but a tyro, and to which a few years back I was a
stranger. I do not on this account ask for a partial
reception, for I am well aware that those only who
are competent should undertake the task of instructing
others.
In my descriptions I have aimed at simplicity and
perspicuity ; I am aware that some may object to the
frequent occurrence of Latin words, but these words
will, I think, be found very few in number, and I
trust their meaning will be rendered perfectly intelligible
by the following explanation. I have treated
every fern as having three parts—the roots, the
rhizoma, and the fronds. At page 13, the small fibres
represent the roots. The three pieces placed transversely
with the page are portions of the rhizoma,
which is, in that instance, called a creeping rhizoma,
because it creeps to a great distance under the
ground ; when it does not creep in this way it is
called a tifted rhizoma. The nine upright stems,
which are represented rising from the rhizoma,
are the fronds ; some botanists consider these the
branches, others call them the leaves of Ferns ; the
fronds of Ferns, like leaves of trees, wither and fall off
every year. The frond consists of a stem, which
extends from the rhizoma to its extreme point or