SEEDS OP MOSSES. 41 



found them remain, and throw up plants in succession for 

 several years/' 



From the wide dissemination of the sporules it is amazing 

 with what rapidity some species of Mosses in favourable 

 circumstances cover the wall-tops, garden-walks, and lawns ; 

 and the gardener knows to his cost tliat no little labour is 

 required to eradicate such from their favourite localities. 

 We observe, in a recent number of the ' Gardeners' Chro- 

 nicle,' the description of a machine used at Trentham Hall 

 Gardens, in Staffordshire, for killing such " pests" on gar- 

 den-walks, by applying to them once a year a copious sup- 

 ply of hot water strongly impregnated with salt. 



It may seem inconsistent with the above to recommend 

 Mosses as objects of cultivation; but while we grant that 

 in situations such as we have indicated, they are injurious 

 weeds, we nevertheless should be glad to see some of the 

 most tractable cultivated in pots or other receptacles, for 

 the beauty of their foliage and fruit. Most readers must 

 have seen the agreeable effect they produce on the surface of 

 flower-pots, or in baskets in which the Orcliulea of tropical 

 climates are grown. 



Their cultivation may be effected by lifting with a little 

 care, towards the end of the season, a good tuft of the 



