HYMENOPHYLLUM LASTBEA. 183 



some soil round the edges, and pressing the whole firmly 

 down to the soil. We then fitted a hand-light to each pan, 

 gave a good watering, and placed them in a shady part of a 

 stove. There we sprinkled them with water every day, and 

 soon had the satisfaction of seeing new fronds springing up 

 over every part of the plants. We had them over from 

 Ireland in the spring, and before the autumn we had almost 

 every pan covered with beautiful healthy fronds. During the 

 summer we removed them into a deep pit, placed them close to 

 a wall on the south side, so that the sun never shone upon 

 them till the evening. Whilst in the pit we removed the hand- 

 lights, as the shade was quite sufficient to keep them from 

 drying-up too quickly. In this pit we have no doubt they 

 would have done well through the winter, but we wanted them 

 to be seen, and so we removed them back again into the stove, 

 placing them at the north side, where no sun could reach them. 

 We have but little hope that these delicate Ferns can be grown 

 in the open air, unless a similar situation can be had as that 

 of their native locality. Such cultivators as do not possess a 

 frame or pit should place them behind a low hedge or a wall, 

 and keep a hand-light constantly over them, excepting in rainy 

 weather, only bearing in mind that they are not aquatics, and 

 will not exist long in a swamp : therefore the place, however 

 favourable in other respects, should have the surface covered 

 with small stones, as well as being well undermined. 



LASTREA. 



LASTREA CRISTATA (Crested). A British Fern, growing 

 2 feet high. Native also of various parts of Europe, and 

 also of North America. Very hardy arid deciduous. Fronds 

 pinnate, lance-shaped; pinnae distant, deeply-cut and heart- 

 shaped at the base. Spore-masses placed in rows on each side 

 of the midrib, midway from the margin. Stalk scaly. Scales 

 broad. Eootstock slowly creeping. Jncreased by division. 



