POLYSTICHUM LONCHITIS. 109 



Settle plant " the seed is generally confined to about a third of 

 the frond, but I have some that are half covered." 



The fronds represented at page 103, are from Scotland ; 

 those at page 107 from Wales: figure b shows the venation, and 

 the points whence the clusters of capsules have been removed ; 

 figure c, represents a pinna with the fructification in a very 

 young state, the peltate involucre alone being visible ; figure d, 

 another pinna, in which the clusters of capsules have enlarged, 

 and more or less concealed the involucre : the figures at page 

 108 are from an Irish plant. 



€ulkn. 



A difficult plant to establish, and even when apparently 

 established, often disappointing the cultivator. Still, nothing 

 can exceed the vigour which it displays when grown in the open 

 air in some parts of Ireland, perhaps, indeed, throughout Ire- 

 land ; but I may speak of Belfast and Dublin, as places in which 

 I have particularly observed it : on rock-work in the sister 

 island it forms strong permanent masses, often displaying fifty 

 fronds at once. In Scotland and the North of England, I 

 have had little experience of the success attending its cultiva- 

 tion in the open air ; but in the South of England it rarely 

 thrives : when potted, and kept in a cold frame or cool green- 

 house, it succeeds better. The following directions may possi- 

 bly be of some service to those who incline to encounter the 

 trouble and reap the reward of pot-culture. Place the caudex 

 erect between two flattish pieces of sandstone or freestone, and 

 then block up the space between them and the sides of the pot 

 with other pieces of stone : do this tightly, compressing the 

 caudex, keeping its crown well above the pot, and allowing the 

 roots to hang down ; then fill up with a light mixture of peat 

 and sandy loam, and shake it gently down until the interstices 

 of the stone are thoroughly filled. In watering this fern, it is 

 best to keep the water entirely from the leaves, unless, by tho- 

 rough ventilation, you can ensure rapid evaporation. 



