1871.] HINTS ON TODEA SUPERBA. 351 



plant was shown in the condition described, and after standing four days 

 and five nights under canvas inside a hand-glass, it was brought home 

 without the least damage, and has continued without cessation to pro- 

 duce fresh fronds ever since. Ten fresh fronds at present crown its 

 centre ; after these are in a sufficient state to warrant them beyond 

 danger of hurt by exposure in a cooler house, the plant shall be re- 

 moved from the case in the stove to one in a greenhouse. 



Potting and Compost. — Among the various requirements necessary 

 to healthy development, these are two of the chief. Like all the other 

 members of the filmy kind, T. superba delights in a compost of an open 

 porous nature, with plenty of drainage. This soil is composed of the fol- 

 lowing ingredients : of chopped-up Sphagnum moss two parts, one part 

 silver-sand, part in lumps and part pounded ; one part turfy peat, chopped 

 up j these are well mingled together : the soil is then in a condition to 

 use. Shallow Achimenes pots are to be preferred to the others, as they 

 afford better scope to provide for neck-roots — width, not depth, being 

 most required. The pots and crocks ought to be scrupulously clean, 

 then potting may be performed — first, by placing in the pan about 2J 

 inches of broken pots; h inch of Sphagnum moss, to keep the drainage 

 free; next follow, in course, enough of the compost to hold the crown 

 of the plant well above the rim of the pot — indeed, the upper portion 

 of the neck-roots ought to form a sudden slope from the plant down 

 to the body of the soil after they are spread out and covered by the 

 mixture. 



Having done the potting, the plant ought to be well watered 

 at the root, and at once returned to its case in the stove, admitting 

 air copiously and constantly from the interior — shading, of course, in 

 all seasons while the sun shines, excepting in the depth of winter, when 

 blinks of sunshine will be beneficial. 



Watering. — Soft, clean, tepid water must constantly be administered, 

 both by sprinkling overhead and root-waterings. On no account let 

 the soil get dry, and see that perfect provision has been provided for 

 a ready outlet to the water given : stagnant water and soured soil are 

 certain death to most plants, sooner or later. 



In conclusion, I may remark, dew the fronds by a fine rose fre- 

 quently in dry hot weather, not even omitting one dewing daily in 

 dull days. The foregoing hints apply with equal propriety to T. pel- 

 lucida, T. Fraseri, &c., as well as to exotic Hymenophyllums. 



A. Kerr. 



