This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869 edition. Excerpt: ...practice. As you extend your operations, you will not be long in discovering how easy it is to kill ferns by one or the other of these processes. For general guidance I will say, then, be sure before you begin that you know what you ought to do. If you cannot see how to divide a plant without spoiling it because it neither offers you offsets, nor a crown large enough to be severed without danger, leave it alone, be content and wait. The habits of different species must be observed also if the cultivator would become expert in propagating. Take for example Onoclea sensibilis, a charming flowering fern for a damp place in a rockery out of doors or under glass, which I hope you will obtain at the first opportunity, if you do not already possess it. Now, this fern propagates itself; that is to say, the rhizoma runs along near the surface, and at some distance from the parent plant throws up several distinct crowns. Leave the plant alone for a couple of seasons and it will be surrounded by, or rather it will consist of, a number of separate centres of growth forming a large rich mass of vegetation. You may divide this into as many pieces as you please, provided each piece has its own centre and tuft of roots, and make plants of them all with patience aided by shade and moisture. Take on the other hand a potted Gleichenia that has been in the same pot two or three years, and you will find it dead in the centre, but all round next the pot will be a series of crowns. Carefully knock it out of the pot, lay it on its side, pass the knife through it, separate the pieces and shake from them the old worn-out soil and pot as before; but in this case put the plant into a warm pit or some other place where it can have a temperature of 60 to 70 with shade and a...