84 HANDBOOK OF MOSSES. 



Many of the Bryums are worth growing \ and the large 

 tufts of Bryum capillare, such as are frequent on old roofs, 

 are easily removed and soon establish themselves, and if 

 gathered when the fruit is still young and green will soon 

 make a goodly show. 



Mnium undulatum also thrives well if removed in good- 

 sized tufts, and seems to thrive better than most species 

 in the confinement of a fern shade. I have had it in beauti- 

 ful fruit under such culture. Mnium hornum will require 

 plenty of moisture, is easily cultivated, and will give a good 

 supply of fruit. 



The wall species, such as Bryum argenteum, B. caspiticium 

 (fig. i), and B. murale, require but little moisture, and 

 seem to thrive best when grown in shady situations. The 

 genus Hypnum will yield a number of species that will 

 amply repay any attention that may be given to them. My 

 own experience will only embrace ff. rutabulum, H. 

 prcelongum, H. confertum, and H. denticulatum. But I have 

 seen H. tamariscinum and H. loreum cultivated in a friend's 

 moss-house with great success, the former fruiting freely 

 under culture, and the latter, although always sterile, still 

 showing a most vigorous growth. Hookeria lucens, too, I 

 have seen under like circumstances; and here the plan 

 adopted was that of keeping the pot in which the plant was 

 growing always immersed to a fair depth in water. The 

 beauty of this plant when well grown can only be realized 

 by those who have seen it. 



Fissidens taxifolius (fig. 20, upper figure), which will be 

 found on shady banks in heavy soils, may also be grown 

 in a properly constituted soil ; but with both this plant and 

 the smaller species, F. bryoides, experience teaches that a 

 fern case suits best for their growth. F. adiantoides, a fine 

 moss growing in marshes, will do best with the treatment 

 given to Hookeria lucens, as mentioned above ; and as it 

 always appears to fruit best in the dampest situations, such 

 treatment would probably be productive of good results. 

 I have never grown this. Many other species may be tried 

 with success, such as Aulacomnion palustre, Dicranum 

 scoparium^ some of the Rhacomitriums ; but experience 

 will be a better teacher than I can hope to be. 



