102 



WILSON S FERN. 



although crowded, each appears to retain its individuality, and 

 they never seem to become perfectly confluent. 



€\\lkxt 



A small quantity of Sphagnum and charcoal should be 

 spread over the bottom of a common seed-pan : this should be 

 covered to the depth of two inches with a mixture of thin la- 

 minae of freestone or mica-schist, sandy peat, clean sand, and 

 thoroughly decayed leaf-mould ; the last in small quantities : 

 arrange the rhizome on this, and cover it with more of the 

 mixture : place the pan in a cool greenhouse, out of the reach 

 of sunshine. In summer, while the fronds continue to be de- 

 veloped, cover the pan with a bell glass, in order to secure a 

 moist atmosphere ; but before winter, remove the glass and ex- 

 pose the j)lant to the weather, watering it daily, except during 

 frost and snow. The Eev. W. Little finds this fern grow 

 freely in the open air in Dumfriesshire. 



