54 ON THE CULTIVATION OF BRITISH FERNS. 



purposed to grow the Ferns elevated above the level of the surface 

 of the ground, and giving a perfect drainage to the water from it. 

 If the soil be sandy and light, a few stones at the bottom of the 

 mound or bed will be sufficient ; but if on a strong, loamy, or re- 

 tentive soil, I would place a layer of loose stones to the height of 

 eighteen inches, taking care that all superfluous moisture should 

 have a free drainage from the bottom. Upon the stones I would 

 place pieces of bog earth, not chopped small, to the depth of eight 

 or ten inches : then an equal thickness of heath mould, or sand 

 and light soil mixed; and then a layer of bog earth mixed with 

 sand. When heath mould and bog earth cannot be procured, 

 sand and good mould may be substituted, mixing with the upper 

 layer some leaf mould, instead of the bog earth ; this I have 

 found to answer remarkably well. No clay or strong loam must 

 be used for the generality of the larger Ferns, such as Aspidium 

 dilatatum, Asp. aculeafum, Filix faemina, &c. ; but for the 

 smaller species, such as Asplenium Ruta-muraria, Scolopendrium 

 Ceterach, or Aspl. Trichomanes, pieces of some light porous stone, 

 (the Derbyshire Tufa is the best,) should be placed for the roots to 

 shoot amongst, and but little soil is needed amongst the stones. 

 After all the care in preparing the soil and planting the Ferns, but 

 little success will be attained without shade, and the cooler the 

 situation the better ; for though stagnant water is very prejudicial 

 to them, they will bear and enjoy a great deal of moisture, provided 

 the soil is such as to admit of its draining away. 



The Ophioglossum vulgatiun, or Adder's Tongue, is somewhat 

 impatient of removal, and thrives better in its natural situation in 

 grassy meadows, than in any to which I have transplanted it. 



I shall be glad if these observations occasion others from your 

 Correspondents, upon the Cryptogamia, and the habitats of 

 British Ferns ; they will be desirable information to all who are 

 anxious to collect or cultivate so interesting a class. 



In my next paper, I will add a list of the localities of those I 

 have gathered. 



Feb. 4. M. 



