THE SPLEENWORTS. 277 



mould and peat. It loves warmth and excessive 

 moisture ; and in the house these conditions are 

 supplied if it be kept under a covering of glass. 

 We have adopted the plan of devoting a large 

 ornamental fern-pan to our specimens, filling up 

 with the necessary soil upon a layer of broken 

 flower-pot and charcoal. On the top of the 

 soil are large pieces of brick and stone, and 

 between these our ferns are planted. The 

 whole is covered with a large bell glass ; and 

 under the same covering we have the Lanceo- 

 late Spleenwort and the True Maidenhair. It 

 is, in fact, a miniature rockery which we have 

 established under glass. Already the moisture 

 has coated the bricks and stony surfaces with 

 moss and seedling ferns ; and we take a keen 

 delight from time to time in uncovering our 

 miniature " Fern Paradise " to get a brief 

 glimpse of the shining fern-fronds, tipped with 

 the mimic dewdrops which distil upon them in 

 their moist prison. 



