CULTIVATION. 
343 
of moisture as well as temperature, the latter ranging 
from 40° to 50° in winter, that being the only period 
of the year when artificial heat is required. In this 
house* are growing, in the greatest luxuriance, species 
from Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, North 
India, elevated portions of Ceylon, South Africa, 
North and South America, and other elevated regions 
within the tropics. The whole collection is grown in 
common deep or shallow pots, pans, and tubs ; the 
latter, however, are only used for the large species 
of Tree Ferns and Angiojpteris ; and though such a 
system is the least natural in appearance, yet it is 
most convenient and found generally consistent with 
the prevailing fashion for in-door horticulture ; this 
mode of cultivation, being mostly adopted, merits our 
first consideration. In the tropical and sub-tropical 
localities, where heat and moisture are abundant, by 
the manner in which they grow and the various 
positions they occupy, soil is of but little importance, 
except for affording their roots the means of obtaining 
permanency of position. This is evident by the remains 
of native soil adhering to the roots of imported plants, 
showing that Tree and other large Ferns in some 
places grow in stiff adhesive, red clay. To imitate 
this soil in pot culture is attended with no success, 
and it is remarkable to see how quickly the roots of 
newly-imported plants take to the fine loam and 
peat in which they are potted. In cultivation, how- 
ever, the great beneficial influence of the natural 
atmosphere is not obtained, and the soil is therefore 
of great importance, necessitating caution in its 
* Length 82 feet, width 13 feet. 
