Fern Allies. 137 



their propagation. Instead of laying the pieces on the 

 top of the soil, the old plant should be taken out of 

 the pan, divided into small pieces, and dibbed a few 

 inches apart in fresh soil, in pans about nine inches in 

 diameter, and as they cover the pans be shifted into 

 larger sizes according to their requirements ; they are 

 slower growing than the others, and do not make large 

 plants so quickly. Any time of the year will do for 

 the propagation, but autumn is the best; for during 

 the winter the cuttings get rooted if kept warm enough, 

 and with the return of spring grow freely and soon 

 make handsome tufts. All the kinds which are of 

 moss-like growth, and form rootlets on their stems, are 

 adapted to cover rocky surfaces in the fern house. 

 Just sprinkle a little sand or peat on the rock or brick, 

 and upon this prepared surface press a few pieces of 

 denticulata, apoda, densa, obtusa, and others of like 

 habit, give a sprinkle daily with the syringe, and they 

 will soon take hold and spread and form charming 

 little carpets of the most delicate vegetation. Speci- 

 men plants in pans will need frequent syringing when 

 growing vigorously, but as the damp days of autumn 

 approach, syringing must be practised less, and during 

 winter must be discontinued altogether. 



As there are few cultivators who can find room for 

 all the Selaginellas, a selection of the most distinct and 

 beautiful will be useful. 



Greenhouse Selaginellas. — S. stolonifera, green 

 and tree-like. S. formosa, green, tree-like, massive. S. 

 microphylla, green, slender, tree-like, red-stemmed. 

 S. uncinata, blue, prostrate, wiry. S. apoda, green, 



