6o FLOWERLESS PLANTS 



The fact that these different kinds of horse- 

 tails mature their spores at such varied times 

 will make a study of the plants easy, for from 

 April until August it is possible to find cones 

 in maturity, or not far removed from this state. 

 If any attempt is made to grow the spores it 

 is again very important to sterilise the soil, as 

 in the case of the club mosses, by baking. 

 Afterwards scatter the spores as soon as they 

 are secured (they will not keep fresh for long) 

 on the newly-dampened soil, and then at once 

 cover them with a glass shade. A good deal of 

 patience must be exercised, as it is quite likely 

 that the frothalli will be somewhat long in 

 appearing. 



The remaining relatives of the ferns which 

 call for special notice are certain curious little 

 plants which are more or less aquatic in habit. 

 One of these is not actually a native of Britain, 

 but it has become well established in certain 

 parts of the south of England. This is Azolla 

 caroliniana, a plant which is very common in 

 the warmer States of North America, and is also 

 found in Australia, though whether the species 

 is actually indigenous in this continent can- 

 not be positively stated. During the warm 



