1-t UlSTOilY OP BlirilSU MOSSES. 



^^lle^e the incision is made, from which the roots take their 

 rise, lu raising the finer and more delicate seeds, whether 

 in pots or out-of-doors, a layer of moss on the surface of 

 the soil, besides that for drainage below, is found of much 

 service in preserving a suitable degree of moisture and 

 warmth during the process of germination. Finally, the 

 imrseryman is constantly indebted to the various species of 

 Ilyjmnrn and Sjihagnum for materials to pack his plants to 

 send to a distance. Those who wish for further informatioTi 

 on tliis head will find satisfactory details in various horti- 

 cultural publications, and in the ' Rural Cyclopaedia,' Art. 

 " Moss.'' 



Other uses of Mosses might be noticed, and we doubt 

 not, as science progresses, the value of these humble tribes 

 will be more distinctly brought out. Enough has been 

 seen, from these few details, to make us unite in saying, 

 with an eminent botanist, '^ In the economy of man they 

 form but an insignificant part; but in the economy of 

 nature, how vast an end !" 



Having thus taken a rapid survey of the ends served 

 in vegetable economy by the IMosses, we shall proceed to 

 notice in separate chapters the leading features of their 

 structure, physiology, fructification, geographical distri- 



