Room Culture. 13 



through Hypnum rnoss, which surround the little 

 pot in a shallow seed-pan. Unsubdued sunrays are 

 not allowed to strike upon the plant, which is watered 

 as it seems proper, from once in ten days, or less, to 

 once a-month. 



Many other ferns have proved their aptitude for 

 growing in rooms, and doubtless many more will do 

 so than I can as yet vouch for ; and the deep green 

 and transparent surface of that which I have last de- 

 scribed seems, as it were, covered with countless drops 

 of dew like diamonds. 



I might specify varieties of what we call Maiden's 

 hair, Adiantutn ; also varieties of Davallia, D.Hoor- 

 cana, or Mooreiy and others called hares- foot ferns ; 

 and of Asptenium, of each of which families there are 

 many kinds. 



Hymenaptylhmi is a genus of filmy fern, many of 

 which are native to Chili and New Zealand, &c. ? and 

 two kinds of which group, but a few inches high, are 

 found abundantly in various parts of the British Isles. 

 One of the prettiest cases of this plant I have seen 

 was at a workman's show at Dundee, several years 

 ago. These elegant plants like a particularly moist 

 atmosphere, for which reason in rooms they are in- 

 closed under glass. 



Selaginellas, in some respects, resemble ferns. 

 They are a genus of club-mosses ; and of them, as 

 of LycogodiumS) there is a great variety, many 

 of which are very elegant in structure and habit. 

 Most of these several kinds of plants are rather easy 



