Fern Allies. 
13 7 
their propagation. Instead of laying the pieces on the 
top of the soil, the old plant should be taken out of 
the pan, divided into small pieces, and dibbed a few 
inches apart in fresh soil, in pans about nine inches in 
diameter, and as they cover the pans be shifted into 
larger sizes according to their requirements; they are 
slower growing than the others, and do not make large 
plants so quickly. Any time of the year will do for 
the propagation, but autumn is the best; for during 
the winter the cuttings get rooted if kept warm enough, 
and with the return of spring grow freely and soon 
make handsome tufts. All the kinds which are of 
moss-like growth, and form rootlets on their stems, are 
adapted to cover rocky surfaces in the fern house. 
Just sprinkle a little sand or peat on the rock or brick, 
and upon this prepared surface press a few pieces of 
denticulata, apoda, densa, obtusa, and others of like 
habit, give a sprinkle daily with the syringe, and they 
will soon take hold and spread and form charming 
little carpets of the most delicate vegetation. Speci¬ 
men plants in pans will need frequent syringing when 
growing vigorously, but as the damp days of autumn 
approach, syringing must be practised less, and during 
winter must be discontinued altogether. 
As there are few cultivators who can find room for 
all the Selaginellas, a selection of the most distinct and 
beautiful will be useful. 
Greenhouse Selaginellas. — S. stolonifera , green 
and tree-like. S. formosa , green, tree-like, massive. S. 
microphylla , green, slender, tree-like, red-stemmed. 
S. uncinata } blue, prostrate, wiry. S, apoda , green, 
