TEICHOMANES RADICANS. 295 



hide the pan ; then introduce say two small gold carp, two cru- 

 cian carp, six sticklebacks, and a dozen water- snails: I am par- 

 ticular in stating numbers, because any attempt to over-load 

 the water with animal life, will exhaust its power of suj)porting 

 it, and this water is never to be changed. Procure a second 

 pan, about half the size of the first, and totally unglazed ; sup- 

 port this on three or four pedestals of stone placed in the water 

 of the first pan, but let the water of the first just touch the bot- 

 tom of the second : in this second pan arrange pieces of free- 

 stone, wet Sphagnum, mosses, Hymenophyllums, and a little 

 very damp earth, composed of sand, leaf-mould, and peat, and 

 among this introduce the rhizomes of the Trichomanes : the 

 second pan will appear as a large island in the first. Now 

 cover the whole with a bell glass, if you can procure one large 

 enough, if not, a large hand-glass must be made on purpose ; 

 but whatever the glass, cover it agam with flannel. Never leave 

 the plant uncovered, and never water ; the exhalation from the 

 water will rise, and keep the plant in a constant vapour-bath. 



No. 3. — A third plan is recommended in the ' Phytologist ' 

 by Mr. Callwell. " Mr. Callwell observed that the statements 

 he was about to make, were upon the experiments and the suc- 

 cessful results of his several modes of treatment of the cultiva- 

 tion of that beautiful fern. In the year 1842, Mr. Andrews 

 had given him a plant having two fronds, one about six inches 

 in length, the other partially developed. These he placed un- 

 der a bell-shaped glass shade, which was about fifteen inches in 

 diameter and eighteen inches in height. The fern was planted 

 in pure maiden earth, or virgin mould, a good drainage being 

 formed by placing inverted flower-pots in the receiver : through 

 this mould he interspersed portions of charcoal. The tempe- 

 rature and moisture were carefully regulated, although but lit- 

 tle watering was given to the plant. Great care was taken to 

 keep the growing fronds from contact with the glass, for so 

 delicate and sensitive were the beautiful fronds when expand- 

 ing, that should they rest against the glass they became black- 

 ened and unsightlj\ In the spring of 1845, so luxuriantly had 

 the plant extended, that he removed the mass to a larger case. 

 At that time there were about twenty fronds, all fully deve- 

 loped, and presenting that beautiful green hue and delicacy of 

 texture which are the remarkable characteristics of the plant. 



