LASTRyEA THELTfPTERIS. 187 
for their natural habitation, it will be found vey useful 
for planting upon the base of the rockery, where, when 
once established, it will soon spread and show its 
beauty, for, when seen in a mass, it is a very handsome 
Fern. It produces its fertile fronds, which arc the 
finest, in much greater abundance where it has full 
scope for its roots, delighting as it does in being per- 
mitted to creep about where it chooses. It may, however, 
be treated very successfully under pot-culture ; but, 
as it will be seen, from its creeping nature, a pan will 
be far better to grow it m than any other vessel, as it 
does not require depth so much as surface-room. The 
drainage in the pan must be formed by a layer of crocks 
at the bottom, then a layer of coarse, fibry peat, filling 
half the depth of tht pan, and the remainder with a 
compost of two-thirds turfy peat, and one-third of leaf- 
mould, with a free admixture of silver sand, and a few 
pieces of crock broken very small. In this compost, 
with a free supply of water, the plant will flourish as if 
at home. The same compost will suit it for planting 
out. It may be propagated easily by division, and may 
be grown also under glass. The plants in pots or pans 
will require a slight protection through the winter 
Some botanists have considered as species, and even 
as belonging to a new genus, forms of Ferns which, we 
believe, are only varieties of the species of Lastrtea, 
which we have particularised. Thus Aspidium dume- 
torum, Lophodium glandulosum, and Lophodium colli- 
num, we consider varieties of Lastrasa dilatata, and 
Lophodium uliginosum of Lastraa cristata. 
