CULTIVATION. 391 



sandstone broken small, or (if peat cannot be pro- 

 cured) good light loam. Having proceeded so far, 

 two systems of planting the case present themselves. 

 The first plan is to plant in the soil, which should be 

 raised in the centre ; the number of plants will 

 depend on the size of the box, and care must be 

 taken not to plant them in too crowded a manner, 

 the distance apart depending on the size and nature 

 of the plants, but in no case should they be closer 

 than six inches. The second method is to have the 

 plants established in 4 to 6-inch pots, plunging them 

 in the soil sufficiently deep to hide the rims of the 

 pots. The last system has one decided advantage, 

 namely, should a plant die or does not succeed, it can 

 be removed and replaced without disturbing its 

 neighbour. It must be understood that the above 

 mode of planting relates to plants with erect verna- 

 tion only, but those with creeping rhizomes, that form 

 CEespitose tufts, require to be planted each on a 

 separately raised hillock, of which, if the case is large, 

 there may be a series, and for the creeping Hymeno- 

 phylla lumps of porous stone are very suitable ; fine 

 patches may be obtained in this way, not only of 

 Hymenophylla, but also of the smaller species of 

 Niphobolus, Anapeltis, the beautiful Humata pinnati- 

 fida, Bavallia pentcvphylla, and others of like habit. 

 After the Ferns are planted, some small-growing 

 Selaginella, such as 8. ajpus, may be pricked in over 

 the surface of the soil, in pieces a few inches apart, 

 which will soon cover it, and give to the whole a neat 

 and finished appearance, and also materially assist 

 in maintaining the proper state of moisture in the air 

 of the case and about the plants. The planting being 



