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germinate, a thallus or leaf-like scale arises. On tkis scale 
appear what corresponds both to the anthers and stigmas in 
flowers. The flrst are called antheridia, and the second 
ovules. The dust or pollen of the one duly afiects the other. 
If, therefore, we suppose that the spores of the diflerent 
species are near one another, and afterwards these organs of 
reproduction arise, it can easily be conceived how the pollen 
of one species may fall on the ovule of another, and thus a 
hybrid Tern be formed. 
It is now evident, that who ever wishes to have a particular 
Tern, must be very careful not to sow the spores of any 
other in the same place. The agriculturist knows how he 
damages a crop of corn by selecting bad seed. The gardener, 
too, will have a sorry exhibition, if he thoughtlessly 
intermixes his spores. These rules apply to the foreign as 
well as the beautiful productions of our own neighbourhood. 
The spring is the best period of the year for sowing. Small 
pots should be selected. Half the pot should be filled with 
earthenware broken very fine. This will prevent the water 
stagnating. A thin layer of bog moss (sphagnum) should 
be spread over these sherds. A compost should then be 
made of loose bog earth and white sand. The bog earth 
must first be crumbled and placed in a hot oven, that any 
lurking organic matter or worms may be destroyed. When 
this compost is duly prepared and thrown on the bog moss 
to less than an inch from the highest part, it should be 
watered. The spores should then be sown, but care must 
be taken that they be not too thickly strewn or too much 
watered, as they are apt to crowd and kill one another. 
After the first time the water should never be placed on the 
earth, but in a saucer underneath. A plain flat piece of 
glass, or a bell-glass should be put on the pot, which should 
be placed in a light but shady place. When the young 
plants appear, and they appear in green scales almost trans- 
parent, a little air may be at first admitted, and that 
increased by degrees. If they are too thick, they must be 
thinned by taking off patches here and there, and planting 
them in similar pots. As this is apt to disturb them, it is 
much better not to sow them too thick at first. Some sow 
them on little pieces of sandstone or broken brick, but in 
