200 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 



lopment day by day would contribute to the thorough 

 understanding of them and their differences. 



We venture to hope, therefore, that some of our readers 

 may be induced to fit up a Wardian case for the Club- 

 mosses ; and with a view to assist them in so doing we offer 

 a few suggestions and hints as to their cultivation. 



A small Wardian case, a northern aspect, a few blocks 

 of sandstone, and some peat soil, are the materials that 

 would be required. 



No contrivance could be better adapted to their wants 

 than a Wardian case, which, while it would protect them 

 from the changes of temperature incidental to a lowland 

 climate, would secure to them a calm and moist atmosphere, 

 which they all prefer. The interior should be fitted up with 

 an artificial mound of " rock-work," made of lumps of soft 

 sandstone, in the disposal of which there will be an oppor- 

 tunity for the display of much taste. At the base of the 

 " rock- work " there should be a little pond of water, in 

 which Isoetes and Pilularia might be cultivated. A por- 

 tion of the peaty soil should be introduced into the inter- 

 stices of the rock-work, and about its base on the margins 

 of the water. In the former situations the smaller and 

 alpine species, such as alpinum, annotinum, and selagi- 



