
THE MOUNTAIN BUCKLER FERN. i75 
specimen labelled from North America, and one from Vermont in 
that of the Rev. W. A. Leighton. In Chili and Valparaiso a 
closely allied plant, differing only in being slightly hairy, is found. 
Though so common à &peciés in some localities, it is not one 
which readily submits to cultivation, and many have been the 
failures of those who have attempted its domestication. Mr. Wol- 
laston has suggested à mode of treatment which is quite in aecord-: 
ance with its natural habits. The plan is to pot or plant in pure 
loam, and to keep this soil wet through the winter, this. being 
done, if the plants are potted, by keeping a feeder full of water 
constantly beneath them. Probably a continuous supply from a 
syphon, allowing the superfluous: quantity to overflow, so that 
there might be a constant change going on, would be a still better 
arrangement; it would at least assimilate more exactly with the 
ceaseless percolation which must be going on its native hills. 
We have succeeded tolerably well by following this plan; though 
in the smoky climate of London, the plants seldom retain their 
vigour for any length of time. In country situations, where the 
atmosphere is pure, the plants grow tolerably well if the situation is 
rather moist ; and under such circumstances, they are better exposed 
than confined. There is no difficulty in securing a supply of the 
plants in the localities where the species occurs, young seedling 
plants being generally most abundant. The caudices also grow in 
tufts, which may be separated for propagation. 
The Sweet Mountain Fern is not very prolific of varieties. 
There are, however, a few varied and curious as well as distinct 
forms, which have the greater interest from being found to retain 
their peculiarities. "These are :一 
1. truncata (Woll.). This is a curious monstrosity, and proves 
quite permanent under cultivation. The apices of the fronds, and 
with very few exceptions, those of the pinne also, terminate abruptly, 
and the end of the rib or rachis projects, often nearly a quarter of 
an inch, beyond the pinnules. The plant has thus the appearance 
of having had the ends of its pinne and its apex, eaten off in a 
uniform manner by some mollusk, and the graceful outline and 
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