THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



279 



which creep down and take hold of 

 the soil. In other of Pascall's pots, 

 and in vases and Wardian cases, I have 

 serpens, than which nothing can he 

 more elegant in habit, and the tint of 

 the most lively green ; mycrophylla, 

 very small bnt distinct and pretty; 

 Poeppigiana, with foliage apparently 

 succulent, but nevertheless quite drj r , 

 and curving down to the soil. Of the 

 blue tinted kinds I have, besides ccesia, 

 Africana and laevigata, a climbing 

 kind, but they are more tender than 

 cassia, and not so good to recommend, 

 except to experienced fern growers. 

 Denticulata, the commonest of the 

 family, is as hardy as any English 

 fern, and of most rapid growth, and 

 may be used in any way, either in 

 pots or rockwork, in the greenhouse 

 or stove — for it will stand heat — or 

 even to creep amongst roots in an out- 

 door fernery in a sheltered spot. One 

 use I turned it to this summer, was to 

 surface a large shallow pot containing 

 ferns, which stood on the top of some 

 rockwork in a large aquarium, the 

 bottom of the pot just touching the 

 water. There it has done famously, 

 aud has crept down all round, and 

 formed an elegant fringe, with its 

 delicate roots reaching to the water. 

 I planted a mere scrap in a Wardian 

 case thirty inches wide, last spring, and 

 it has run over the whole in such a 

 riotous manner, that next spring I 

 shall be obliged to root it out. Hel- 

 vetica is another that may be used in 

 a similar way, but is not so hardy as 

 denticulata. 



To grow these curious and beautiful 

 plants, get a supply of Pascall's pots, 

 and have glasses fitted to them — (as 

 there is sometimes a difficulty in get- 

 ting the glasses to fit, I generally send 

 my pots straight to Messrs. Phillips, 

 of 180, Bishopsgate-street, and leave 

 the matter to them. The glasses 

 cost from ninepence to a couple of 

 shillings each, according to size) 

 — plenty of crocks, powdery peat 

 and silver sand, pressed firm, with 



a few blocks of granite, or other 

 rock on the surface, and then plant 

 the lycopodiums, allowing plenty 

 of room, because they spread fast. A 

 good watering must be given, and the 

 glasses kept close for a few days; 

 after that give them air once or twice 

 a week, and keep just moist. They 

 are less trouble, even than I 

 because they like a close, moist air, 

 and but a moderate amount of light. 

 The specimens here figured have m 

 water since September last, and yet are 

 in splendid health, and will go through 

 the winter in the windows of the draw- 

 ing and sitting-rooms, but serpens, my- 

 crophylla, laevigata, and others that are 

 more tender, will be kept with other 

 greenhouse stock, at a temperature of 

 45 to 50 degs., till the return of 

 spring. Those who are not familiar 

 with the family, cannot do better than 

 begin their culture in pots under bell- 

 glasses, and take the sorts I have 

 specified as most hardy. Marteusii 

 having no equal in the vegetable king- 

 dom for grace and majesty, the broad 

 fronds shining as if varnished and 

 veined with dark lines, that have an 

 exquisite appearance when seen against 

 the light, may be made the centre- 

 piece for a large pot or vase, and 

 must have at least sixteen inches of 

 space for each way. Formosa will do 

 in a six or eight-inch pot, with a bell- 

 glass seven or eight inches high, to be 

 shifted when large enough, to a larger 

 pot or glass dish, with a glass eighteen 

 or twenty inches high. Apoda is the 

 closest and the densest growing of 

 them all, having the appearance of a 

 delicate, fresh green moss, the fronds 

 dotting the surface with a charming 

 distinctness ; and variabilis, if grown 

 in a warm place, will give delight by 

 its glittering colours of white, yellow, 

 and green, and it is so phosphorescent 

 that you may see it in the dark. 

 Those who are used to ferns, will find 

 no difficulty in treating lycopodiums, 

 but the sorts must be chosen according 

 to the amount of heat at command. 



