thickets, in the crevices of rocks, and in the mouths of wells, 

 mines, and caverns, where they have little light, and enjoy an 

 atmosphere of almost uninterrupted humidity. But while moist- 

 ure is an important agent in securing, and even enhancing, that 

 beauty which belongs to them in the wild state, drainage is no 

 less necessary to the preservation of the greater number, and must 

 be so far provided as to prevent the lodgement of water in a stag- 

 nant state about the roots. The subjoined materials will be found 

 more or less requisite to those engaging in the cultivation of this 

 interesting tribe : viz. 



As draining media. 



1. Shards, or fragments of garden-pots broken to the size of an 

 inch, or larger. 



2. Fragments of sandstone, limestone, slate, &c. for forcing into 

 the soil around the roots, in planting. 



3. Charcoal, broken into pieces, from the size of a filbert to that 

 of a walnut. 



As soil. 



1. Peat, or bog-earth. The best is that of a blackish or dark- 

 brown hue, and spongy texture. 



2. Decayed leaf-mould, or rich garden soil. 



3. Loam. The best is of a yellowish hue, containing much 

 vegetable fibre. 



4. Sand. The white or silver sand being preferable, though not 

 essential. 



5. Mortar from old buildings. 



Where the collection is large or increasing, a compost, prepared 

 by mixing the first four in equal proportions, is desirable, as being 

 always at hand, and capable of modification as necessity may re- 

 quire. The old mortar is only for occasional use, but a small 



