328 GAEDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



England for growing in glass cases, the close confined atmo- 

 sphere of which is most congenial to them, as they are mainly 

 natives of hot moist climates. 



Selaginella. 



S. laevigata. Generally named in Calcutta Lycopodium bicolor. 

 A fern-like plant, trailing with its stems over a considerable 

 space ; when in a healthy condition, during the Rains in parti- 

 cular, of astonishing beauty; the finely-divided fronds, like 

 expanded plumes, assuming then colours of strange metallic 

 lustre, in which dark-blue, bronze, orange, and pale green are 

 exquisitely blended. A very common plant in the gardens 

 about Calcutta, growing most vigorously in situations of the 

 deepest shade. It does best planted among large pieces of 

 broken brick, the intervals filled up with leaf-mould. Propagated 

 easily by cuttings in silver-sand during the Rains. 



POLYPODIACE.E. 



FERNS. 



Except in the Botanical Gardens the number of Ferns met 

 with in the gardens of Calcutta is but scanty, though a good 

 many more might be cultivated with perfect success, were it 

 thought worth the trouble and expense to introduce them. In 

 my opinion nothing can surpass in beauty a choice assortment 

 of these plants tastefully arranged and in a healthy condition, 

 and it seems strange that the ornamental glass Fern-cases, now 

 so common in England, have not been introduced generally 

 into the halls and drawing-rooms of Calcutta, to which they 

 would be admirably adapted. " Ferns of many kinds," Mr. John 

 Scott observes, " may be grown in Betel -houses, but for a general 

 collection of tropical species glass structures are absolutely 

 necessary, in order that their young and tender fronds may be 

 shielded from the scorching influence of the atmosphere through- 

 out the Hot season." There are notwithstanding several species 

 which will thrive satisfactorily enough under the shade of a 

 verandah among other potted plants, and it is by the contrast 

 afforded by their foliage there that their beauty and grace can 

 be more especially recognised perhaps than in any other situa- 

 tion. To confine them to Betel-houses, if intended for decoration, 



