44 TRICHOMANES RADICANS. 



layer of sphagnum moss had been laid; this saucer is then 

 placed within a larger one, and the latter filled several inches 

 deep with water, so as to form a canal of water round the 

 plant, upon the whole of which is placed a square hand-glass, 

 opening at the top, and having several holes, in order to carry 

 off the superfluous moisture. By this means the plant is always 

 properly damp, and yet no amount of vapour remains on the 

 sides of the glass; were it to do so, young fronds touching the 

 sides would rapidly decay. Before I used this plan my fronds 

 were always turning a blackish colour, even when quite young ; 

 now the fresh greenness is retained with them all, and even 

 those that were discoloured, have in part regained their 

 greenness. 



The creeping almost black hirsute rhizoma attaches itself to 

 the stones, and over the edges of the saucer, in the manner of 

 ivy. This plant requires shade as well as moisture to induce 

 a healthy growth, and it will either flourish in a stove or 

 greenhouse — the latter appears to be its favourite climate. 



Dr. Forbes Young showed me plants growing on the rocks 

 in his stove fernery under the shade of large Ferns and climb- 

 ing plants, without any covering over it, and they appeared to 

 be in excellent condition. 



Mr. Moore mentions that "Mr. Calwell, a very successful 

 grower of this species, received, in the spring of 1843, a 

 small portion of rhizoma with one partially-developed frond, 

 and another just appearing, and this was placed within a bell- 

 glass, about fifteen inches in diameter. In December, 1846, it 

 had quite filled the glass, and was removed into a case, three 

 feet ten inches by two feet six inches, and three feet four inches 

 high. The space beneath for about twelve inches in depth, was 

 filled with up-turned flower-pots, charcoal, cocoa-nut husks, and 

 light earth and peat. The plant, in 1852, had filled this case 

 also, having about two hundred and thirty fully-developed fronds, 

 of from fourteen to twenty inches in length. "When removing 

 it to the case, in 1846, five or six fronds which had been in- 

 jured by contact with the glass, were cut away, but since that 

 time, up to 1852, not one of the fronds then existing, nor any 

 of those subsequently formed, had shewn any symptoms of 

 decay." It will thus be apparent that this Fern is, from its 

 great beauty, as well as from the durability of its fronds, worthy 



