204 XV TKICHOMANES. 
it quite filled the glass, and in that month I removed it into a 
case 3 feet 10 inches by 2 feet 6 inches, and 3 feet 4 inches 
in height the space under this, about twelve inches in depth, 
was filled with upturned flower-pots, charcoal, cocoa-nut 
husks, and light earth and peat. The plant now nearly fills 
this case. It is difficult to count the fronds accurately, but, 
as nearly as 1 can count them, they number two hundred and 
thirty or upwards, of fully-developed fronds ; the length of 
the fully-opened fronds being from fourteen to twenty and 
a-half inches taking the length from the end of the stem, 
where it starts from the rhizome, to the point of the frond. 
When removing it to the present case, in December 1846, 
I cut away five or six fronds which had been injured by 
contact with the glass, but since that time not one of the 
fronds then existing, nor any of those since formed, have 
shown any symptoms of decay. As to the general treat- 
ment : having originally provided well for perfect drainage, 
I carefully sprinkle the surface of the fronds with water 
once or twice a week in summer, and less frequently in 
winter, and keep the door of the case (which is very close) 
always shut, the drainage-valve underneath always open. 
The case stands in a vestibule with nearly west aspect, 
quite sheltered from the south by the house, which is much 
higher than the vestibule. I strongly think that much of 
my success is due to the fact that the light is much subdued 
by shining through coloured glass windows (chiefly brown 
and orange). The general appearance of the plant is 
quite natural, the fronds bending down mostly. About 
three years ago, I placed, for experiment, a small portion 
of the rhizome with one open frond, on a block, and hung 
it up in the case. It has now nineteen expanded fronds, 
varying from nine to twelve inches in length, the rhizome 
having crept all round the block, and throwing down 
abundance of roots five or six inches long. I have not 
found any other fern to thrive or even to live, in this case, 
except Asplenium marinum, which seems to like the situ- 
ation tolerably. I have even tried Hymenophyllum tun- 
bridyense and H . Wilsoni , neither of which lived past one 
