144 LASTED A CRISTATA. 
Mr. W. Reeve gives us the following directions lor its 
cultivation : 
"The Lastraa cristata is a very useful plant for 
adorning the moist, shady parts of the rockery and 
shrubbery, as well as for growing in pots for a collection 
of hardy Ferns ; but it is not so beautiful as some other 
species. When once established, it very shortly becomes 
free in its growth and low in appearance. Those who 
wish to grow it as a pot -plant must drain well the 
pot, and give the plants a compost of loam and peat 
(fibry), equal parts, with a free admixture of silver sand ; 
and plenty of room will be required as the plant in- 
creases in size. It prefers being grown in a damp, 
shady situation, and a cool rather than a hot situa- 
tion. When grown in a ligh temperature, the un- 
folding fronds become long and weak, and it loses its 
beauty, and oftentimes damps quite off, or dwindles 
away. 
" It is well adapted for damp, shady places, the shaded 
part of a rockery included, where it will grow very wel' 
in a compost of loam and peat, with a little grit (fine 
stones or small crocks) mixed with it ; and both in this, 
and also under pot-culture, it will require a moderate 
supply of water and frequent syringing. 
" It may be increased by sowing the ripe fructification 
(which will be in that state by the latter end of summer) 
in shallow pans filled with charcoal, lumps of peat, 
sandstone, and loam, and placed in a damp pit,, and 
shaded closely from sunshine, and the seedlings to be 
pricked off in the same manner as directed for former 
