384 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



wMch the rhizomes of creeping-rooted Ferns will 

 luxuriate. 



Any Moss which, in the woods or other spots 

 where Mosses abound, may strike the finder's fancy, 

 should be lifted with a good portion of the soil, and 

 planted in a thoroughly drained medium-sized pot. 

 The base of the tuft should, in case it has not been 

 removed with soil sufficient, be placed in immediate 

 contact with such material as most nearly resembles 

 that on which it naturally grows. This is somewhat 

 important, as although some grow in almost any 

 soil, others affect more or less a particular one. The 

 smaller-growing rock species simply require to be 

 taken with the stone on which they grow ; the larger 

 ones should be fastened on similar stones, with wire 

 or some other contrivance, until they have attached 

 themselves. The moisture-loving ones, such as 

 some of the Bartramias, the water-loving Hypnums, 

 and Dicranums, should have the pots kept in saucers 

 filled constantly with water, by which means their 

 roots are regularly supplied with water. All are 

 better with pretty frequent syritigings of rain- 

 water. Most of the kinds are in a state of rest, more 

 or less definite, during the summer months ; these 

 can then be placed on ashes behind a north wall, 

 and left to themselves without further care than an 

 occasional watering. In order, however, to prevent 

 birds from rooting up the tufts in search of insects 

 and worms, and thus interfering materially with the 

 welfare and appearance of the plants, it is well to 

 have netting fixed over them in such a way as to 

 prevent the incursions of such unwelcome visitors. 



Hypnmn tamariscimim and its allies make beautiful 

 objects if kept in a moist, shaded spot, and not a few 

 Hypnums thrive on turves of fibrous peat. The 

 Hookerias, too, grow freely either on moist stones or 

 in prepared pots of small pieces of almost any porous 

 stone. In a well-shaded case in which Ferns succeed, 

 pieces of wood or Moss-covered branches may be 

 placed, and the wonderful variations in colour, in 

 the length, direction, and form of their stems and 

 branches — not to speak of the differences in the cap- 

 stiles— cannot fail to appeal to the admiration of all 



who love plant-life. Sypmim splendens, well estab- 

 lished, makes a specimen which for grace and delicacy 

 can hardly be surpassed. Climaciam dendroides, with 

 its erect stems and feathery dark green foliage, is. 

 quite as charming as any miniature Fern. It re- 

 quires a weU-drained fibrous peat, and abundance of 

 moisture. 



The following is a list of a few of the species most 

 readily grown, and, at the same time, some of the- 

 more striking and distinct of our British Mosses, 

 not mentioned in the preceding paragraphs. A few 

 words as to the aspect of the plant and the habitats it 

 affects are also given : — 



AnBBctangium ciliatum — 

 frequent on rooksj &c., in 

 hilly districts. Conspi- 

 onous by the projecting 

 hairs of the leaf, which 

 give a hoaiy appearance 

 to the tufts. 



Andrsea rupestris— a some- 

 what somhre-hned, brown- 

 ish tufted Moss, so com- 

 mon on rocks in some 

 mountaLnons districts as 

 to give quite a character 

 to the scenery. 



Anomodon curtipendulum — 

 a fine .Moss, with dark 

 green foliage ; rocks and 

 trees chiefly in mountain- 

 ous districts. 



A. viticulosum — a much less 

 Tigorous grower than the 

 last, with soft pale green 

 tufts. 



Bartramia pomiformis — 

 the common Apple Moss 

 of rocks and dry hanks. 

 It has pale green foliage, 

 and pretty rounded cap- 

 sules, which suggested its 

 English name, 



B. ithyphylla, an allied spe- 

 cies from more hilly dis- 

 tricts, has deeper green 

 leaves. 



Bryum argenteum grows on 

 wall-sides, roofs, indeed 

 almost everywhere. It 

 has deep silvery -green 

 tufts. A number of other 

 Bryums are wonderfully 

 pretty when well grown. 



D. heteromollum is common 

 in lowland woods, and its 

 dense velvety carpet of 

 dark green is very attrac- 

 tive. 



Dioranum pellucidum is 

 found by rivers and. 

 streams. It has yellow- 

 ish-green, almost trans- 

 parent leaves. 



D. squarrosum grows in. 

 wettish spots on moun- 

 tains. 



Eucalypta vulgaris is the 

 Extinguisher Moss, so 

 called on account of the 

 resemblance of its pale 

 green cap or calyptra to 

 an extinguisher. Not uii- 

 common on banks and. 

 wall-tops. 



Eunaxia hygi-ometrioa is 

 found on walls and rocks, 

 and on the ground, espe- 

 cially where wood ha& 

 been burnt. It grows in. 

 pale green patches, which 

 contrast markedly witu 

 the orange or reddish 

 colour of the ripe cap- 



Grimmia apocarpa is com- 

 mon on rocks, wall-tops, 

 and trees. It makes good- 

 sized dark brownish-greeu 

 tufts. 



G. pulvinata forms small, 

 dense, hoary cushions. 



Hookeria Isetevirens has 

 darker green foliage than 

 the commoner H. lucens. 

 Both grow on shaded, 

 moist banks, &c., and 

 have beautiful pellucid 

 leaves. 



Trichostomum hetprosti- 

 ohum, the Hoary fringe 

 Moss, forms beautiful 

 lioary patches on stony 

 ground chiefly in moun- 

 tainous districts.' 



End op Vol. IV. 



