Fern Allies. 143 



Mosses. — Though we rarely meet with these as 

 special objects of cultivation, a large number of the 

 most beautiful may be grown with but little difficulty 

 in an outdoor fernery, and a few are well adapted for 

 cool house and frame qulture. "Where ferns are well 

 managed mosses are sure to appear amongst them 

 spontaneously, and add very much to the beauty of the 

 rockery by the tone of age and ripeness they give it. 

 In the 'Floral World ' of February, 1869, the writer 

 of this gave his experience at length upon this subject. 

 Those who are particularly interested in it may peruse 

 the article with advantage. 



In collecting mosses for cultivation, they should be 

 taken with a thin slice of whatever they may be grow- 

 ing upon adhering to the roots. Thus obtained, they 

 will grow freely, and spread in all directions. But 

 when they are rudely torn from pieces of rock, the 

 roots are injured, and the specimens suffer in con- 

 sequence, frequently resulting in their death. All the 

 mosses require a liberal supply of moisture at all 

 seasons, to keep them in full health. A better proof 

 of the truth of this assertion is not wanted than to 

 point to the vigorous way in which they all grow natu- 

 rally during the humid season of November and De- 

 cember. To keep them in first-rate condition, they 

 should have a liberal sprinkling overhead three times a 

 day through the summer, and at other times twice will 

 be sufficient, unless the weather is particularly dry and 

 warm. There need be little fear of their receiving too 

 much. In the winter there will be sufficient atmo- 

 spheric moisture, in addition to the rains, to keep them 



