.382 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



.species and individuals diminishing greatly in 

 numbers as this region is receded from. 



The terrestrial species grow on hanks, or lightly- 

 shaded ground, as a rule, rarely in deep forest. 

 The ground may he either damp or well drained, 

 and he as variable in the character of its com- 

 position, and some are found in humus and wet beds 

 of sphagnum. The same species is often found 

 under very different conditions in different countries. 

 In the West Indies, I have gathered L. diehotomum in 

 fully-saturated beds of Moss, and in Guiana on the 

 branches of trees, where it was quite dry, and 

 equally luxuriant under both conditions. It would 

 not be well, however, to assume from this instance 

 of apparent accommodation to diverse circumstances, 

 that any mode of cultivation adopted would be 

 successful; for, though the plants from the two 

 countries were identical specifically, long ages have 

 probably produced their adaptation to the difference 

 in the conditions of the habitats noticed. Some 

 species are indifferently terrestrial or epiphytal, 

 but where this occurs they grow always either in 

 peaty soil or leaf-mould. L. taxifolium, a strong- 

 growing, well-known American species, is an in- 

 stance of this fact, occupying branches of trees, or, 

 on the other hand, logs lying on the ground. 

 The epiphytal species grow in vegetable debris, or 

 peat formed of root-fibres of other plants, such 

 as Bromeliads and epiphytal Ferns, some of which 

 produce this material plentifully (an excellent 

 substitute for peat) on the branches of trees. 

 Again, in forests, at high elevations, atmospheric 

 moisture is so abundant that little root-hold is 

 required to keep these plants, and many others, in 

 good condition, though at a lower altitude the same 

 amount might fail entirely to sustain them. 



Except only with a few hardy temperate species, 

 the garden cultivation of Lycopodiums has been al- 

 most a complete failure. This failure is very marked 

 compared with the great success that has attended 

 the growth in our gardens of their allies, the Selagi- 

 nellas ; the reason, however, for this difference is 

 obvious. The Selaginellas will grow under any 

 conditions which afford sufficient moisture. They 

 expand rapidly, and a plant may be broken up 

 into as many pieces as there are branches on it, 

 and each piece inserted in the ground will, in its 

 turn, become a rapidly-spreading plant, in hardly 

 more time than a few days. 



With the majority of Lycopodiums, however, al- 

 most the reverse obtains. They are impatient of 

 much root-disturbance, and unless lifted from their 

 habitats in very large unbroken sods of soil, do not 

 live long when brought home. When well estab- 

 lished they may be multiplied by division, which 

 should be done carefully, so as not to disturb the 



firmly imbedded roots. The dichotomously forked 

 species — whether terrestrial or epiphytal — may be 

 either layered, struck from cuttings, or divided where 

 pieces can be conveniently removed with good roots 

 to them. This section is not so impatient of root- 

 disturbance as the creeping species. For layering, 

 any healthy shoots will do, treated in the usual way. 

 Shoots not in fruit are the best ; old, much-fruited 

 shoots are useless. The same applies to cuttings ; 

 if possible to obtain, they should be young, vigorous, 

 as yet unfruited shoots. Unfruited, I say advisedly, 

 for in this section all the shoots become fertile in the 

 course of time. In cultivation, under the process of 

 reproduction, plants often become exhausted after a 

 short time ; it is better therefore, before this occurs, 

 to cut the growths back, when they will break into 

 bud again from the base. 



All the pendent species should be grown in sus- 

 pended baskets, in a mixture of chopped fibrous 

 peat, sphagnum, a little clean silver sand, and some 

 bits of charcoal. The drainage should be perfect. 

 An idea of the kind of compost required for any 

 terrestrial species might be formed from that of 

 the natural material, some of which, in most cases, 

 would be found adhering to the roots when the 

 plant is brought home. Many, however, will do 

 well in a mixture of peat and sphagnum, potted 

 firmly. The drainage in all cases must be good, even 

 for those that are sub-aquatic. The epiphytes are, 

 of course, forest subjects, and require in cultivation 

 moderate shade. Those that come from high, eleva- 

 tions in the tropics require a cool house, such, for 

 instance, as that in which Filmy Ferns or Odontoglos- 

 sums thrive, with a temperature ranging from 50° 

 to 75° during the year. Many plants are, no doubt, 

 lost through ignorance of what is required in this 

 particular, the tendency being to give too much 

 heat. 



In spore production. Lycopodiums are remarkably 

 prolific, but though it lias often been tried in cul- 

 tivation, no success has attended the attempts at 

 this method of reproduction. 



About a score of species appear to have been tried 

 from time to time, but probably not more than a 

 dozen have been in cultivation together at any 

 particular period. Among the most interesting of 

 those that have been tried are the following : — 



L. nlpinum— closely resem- 

 bles some of tlie forms of 

 complanatum. Doeswellin 

 a shaded corner in an open 

 rookwork. European. 



L. Cernuum — this is one of 

 the finest of all the ter- 

 restrial species, and one 

 of the most widely distri- 

 buted in a state of nature. 

 It grows upon any kind of 

 soil, but seems to prefer 

 a rather stiff clav. The 



situation should he open 

 and fully exposed to sun- 

 light, with plenty of rom. 

 The erect branches form 

 dense oblong: pyramids, 

 one to two feet high ; the 

 brauches are very nume- 

 rous, in tiers, spreading - 

 all round the stem, and the 

 abundant small branchlets 

 have each a small sessile 

 fertile co^e, recurved at 

 The tip. Stove. 



