CULTIVATION. 317 



becomes furnished with beautiful projecting fronds. 



If a greater height is desired, another cylinder may 



be added to the first. This mode is equally useful for 



StenoMcena, Polybotrya, Lomariopsis, &c. In respect 



to species in which the rhizomes elongate slowly, the 



upper part of the cylinder is bare and unsightly for a 



time. This may be obviated by having a short cylinder 



and heighten it by adding short lengths when required. 



The genus Elaphoglossum is generally epiphytal, and 



as some of its larger growing species, such as E. callce- 



folium and E. latifolium, being decumbent caespitose 



in vernation, it is not necessary to have the soil raised 



much above the rim of the pot, which should be of 



the flat kind, and three inches depth of soil is quite 



sufficient. Many smaller species of this genus are 



most lovely objects, and some of them are not yet in 



cultivation. Of the whole Fern Family the Plat y cerium 



may be considered the most grand, beautiful, and 



extraordinary; and it is thoroughly typical of this 



epiphytal group. Its natural position of growth is 



sometimes on moist rocks, but usually on the trunks 



and larger branches of trees. The spores becoming 



lodged there, germinate, and, sending out spongy 



fibrils, a little plant, like a circular disk, adhering to 



the tree, analogous to a foliaceous lichen, is formed, 



each succeeding disk (frond) becoming larger and 



overlapping the preceding one. In time the older 



ones loose their vitality, and by this mode of growth 



envelop, or nearly so, that portion of the tree whereon 



they grow in a dense, thick, spongy mass, among which 



the roots insinuate themselves and receive nourishment. 



As equivalent to this, in cultivation blocks of wood 



are mostly used ; but they are objectionable from their 



