CULTIVATION. 363 



under the above name. This hygrometric property- 

 seems to indicate that this and its allied species are 

 subjected to occasional drought in their native localities. 

 But although they may frequently undergo this pro- 

 cess in nature with impunity, it is, however, not 

 desirous to be too often repeated on plants artificially 

 cultivated. Shallow pots, four to five inches in 

 diameter, best suit this section; and being firm 

 holders, it is necessary to insert pieces of soft sand- 

 stone or potsherds amongst the shallow soil, so as 

 to fix the plant firmly in the pot. The extremely 

 delicate nature of the tissue of these little plants neces- 

 sitates that a position the shadiest and moistest in a 

 Fernery should be assigned to them. 8. Willdenovii, 

 S. filicina, and others are termed deciduous from their 

 fronds decaying altogether in the early spring ; new 

 fronds, however, soon begin to grow. 



The species of true Lycopodium are also numerous, 

 some being terrestrial and others epiphytal, hanging 

 from the trees like various-sized cord, one to four feet in 

 length. Of the terrestrial, five are natives of this country; 

 they, as well as several beautiful species that have from 

 time to time been introduced from North America, 

 refuse to become domesticated under ordinary treat- 

 ment ; to which must be added the wide-spread and 

 beautiful tropical species L. cernuum. Equal ill success 

 attends the epiphytal species ; for although frequently 

 imported, they are yet but poorly represented in our 

 collections ; they adhere to trees by producing many 

 fibrous roots, which ultimately become a large spongy 

 mass. 



The extra height of roof required for the growing of 

 good examples of Tree Ferns excludes them from many 



