A Dictionary of Choice Ferns. 
195 
CYSTOPTKRIS— continued. 
in the remaining space put some very fibrous peat, mixed 
with a little loam and silver sand. Plant in this, and 
cover with a bell-glass, having its rim raised lan inch or 
so above the surface for ventilation ; but beware of snails. 
Keep the soil always moist while the plant is growing, 
and remove the glass as soon as the Fern appears sufficiently 
well established. When it has made vigorous growth it 
will not require any further protection. The above advice 
is that of the late Mr. Sims, who was most successful 
in the cultivation of all British Ferns. 
DAVALLIA. 
Hare's Foot rerns, or Davallias, are almost 
evergreen in character. Their mode of fructification 
is so distinct that there is very little difficulty 
in identifying the species when once their 
most distinctive characters are understood. In 
all Davallias the sori are either marginal or sub- 
marginal; they are generally globose or roundish, 
but sometimes elongated, either laterally or verti- 
cally. They are disposed in shortly- but distinctly- 
stalked capsules, and are covered by involucres that 
are variable in form, being sometimes kidney- 
shaped, sometimes nearly round, always open at the 
summit, broadly fastened at the base, and generally 
united, though occasionally open at the sides. The 
veins are always free, and although there are a few 
exceptions, the majority of the species produce their 
fronds from rhizomes that are usually wide-creeping, 
scaly, and peculiarly predisposed to remain on the 
surface of the soil. Botanists subdivide the family 
thus: — Acrophorus, Eiidavallia, Humata, Leucos- 
tegia, Loxoscayhe, Microlepia, Odontoloma, and 
Stenoloma. 
Davallias are some of the finest of all Ferns for 
basket culture, such species as D. hullata, D. 
canariensis, D, dissecta, D. Mariesii, and D. 
Tyermanni being excellent. To the genus also 
belong the Fern balls, so popular for suspending 
in rooms or glass-houses; and also the grotesque- 
looking animals that have a certain vogue. A form 
of the well-known D. hullata {Nagaha) is usually 
employed for the purpose. 
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