324 FECNS : BEITISH AND POEEIGN. 



inches of leaf soil, in company with Adiantwm and 

 other Ferns, as well as much Gypei'acece, the whole 

 forming a dense undergrowth in woods. From this it 

 appears there is no great peculiarity from other Ferns 

 as to its place of growth, and that our ill success 

 arises in consequence of the nature of the plant, being 

 difficult to re-establish after being taken from its 

 native soil, of which there are many instances ; the 

 common Pteris aquilina being a familiar example. 



The numerous and beautiful species of Hymeno- 

 phyllce, called Filmy Ferns, merit particular attention. 

 They are natives of both tropical and temperate 

 regions, and where they abound are generally found 

 in shady moist woods, clothing the lower parts of the 

 trunks of trees, especially Tree Ferns, or on dripping 

 rocks, or surface-soil of the deepest ravines, rarely in 

 exposed situations. In order to surround them with 

 a moist atmosphere, adaptations must be resorted to, 

 such as moveable cases upon the Wardian principle, 

 hereafter to be described, and which are essentially 

 necessary for the cultivation of this delicate tribe. 

 Such, indeed, is their delicacy, that if once allowed to 

 become dry on the surface of their fronds for any 

 length of time, a rusty and shrivelled appearance will 

 soon follow. Having, as already stated, succeeded in 

 cultivating Trichomanes radicans, it becomes obvious 

 that other species could also be made subservient to 

 cultivation; of which there is ample evidence to be 

 seen at Kew, where there are forty cases* of different 

 sizes, arranged on a stone shelf on the north side of 

 the large Fern House, in such a position that they 



* Mav, 1864. 



