CULTURE OF MOSSES AND LICHENS. 299 
the following is an abstract. The culture of these plants is a pleasing 
object, and many of them are comparatively easy ; for example, the 
genus Marchantea, all grow and flower freely in cultivation ; many of 
the Jungermannias also grow and flower freely in a house; and we 
had for some years a plant of that pretty and rare Cryptogama Bryum 
roseum growing in a potin a greenhouse. Mr. Donald observed :— 
** T regret the absence of these interesting members of the vegetable 
kingdom in our botanical gardens, not even a square yard of eround 
being bestowed upon them amidst all the waste and grandeur around. 
After gazing upon huge plants, what an agreeable change would it not 
be to turn to a collection of Mosses in a shady corner, all correctly 
named. As a proof of their easy culture, it is only necessary to call 
attention to the difficulty of eradicating them where tronblesome and 
out of place. Moist shady places in general are the situations which 
nature has provided for them ; and if success is wanted, her rules must 
not be deviated from. I beleive there is a collection of Mosses still in 
existence at Chatsworth; and I have heard, from an eye-witness, that 
they are grown at Edinburgh, under the stage of a greenhouse, in pots, 
and are looking very well: those at Chatsworth are grown upon rock- 
work, Pots are to be preferred, for two reasons,—water can be more 
judiciously given; tender varieties, liable to damp off in winter, can 
be removed to airy situations and attended to. 
** A low rustic house, built for the purpose on a north wall, or shaded 
by trees, where they could be protected in severe weather, is the best 
situation for their growth; this building can always be kept clean, and 
accessible even in winter. Fire heat must be withheld; this would 
induce Mosses to produce leaves instead of fruit, by which annual 
species are propagated. Keeping them too close would have the same 
effect, consequently the weather must be very bad to prevent air being 
given, 
** The soil for potting must be varied according to the nature of the 
species. They are found upon loam, peat, sand, stones, or bricks, wood, 
and some even grow in water. The mode of potting requires a fuller 
explanation. Such as Polytrichum juniperinum, which roots in soil, 
may be potted in the usual way; only, instead of a single plant, a tuft, 
or number, must be put together; this must be done when the plants 
are young. If possible, obtain a good portion of native soil with them, 
as they will succeed better in it than any compost you can make for 
them. For those which are found upon rotten wood and decayed 
vegetable matter, such as Hypnum striatum, H. undulatum, &ce., rough 
turfy peat, mixed with pieces of half decayed wood, closely packed, 
answers the purpose: on this the plants should be fastened down; or, 
if possible, obtain the piece of wood, or whatever material they may 
be attached to, and fasten to the pot, without disturbing the roots. 
I have often found Hypnum rutabalum clinging to wood without any 
visible roots. Those found on stones must be treated in like manner, 
only substituting sandstone instead of wood. ‘The aquatic species, 
Fontinalis antipyretica is an example: it should be grown in water, 
upon stones or gravel. Hypnum ruscifolium grows on stones in damp 
places, and will do best in water, but not covered with it. The various 
