THE GREEN SPLEENWORT. Why 
what respect this species differs from 4 viride of the European Alps ; 
and it is possible that this peculiarity may originate in its elevated 
locality, which is no doubt very considerable at all times on the 
Andes of Colombia.” 
At home on the mountain sides this delicate species does not 
bear so well as many others the atmosphere of lowland situations, 
especially if to this be added the impurities which occur in towns 
or cities: hence, except in favourable localities not affected by 
smoke, the plant will not bear exposure. It is generally found 
necessary to cultivate it under glass, a cold frame, occasionally 
ventilated and with the atmosphere kept moderately moist, being most 
suitable for it. The soil should be of a rocky nature, and no 
stagnant water should be suffered to remain about it. It however 
seldom attains under cultivation, the size which it acquires in shel- 
tered situations amongst its native rocks, in the interstices of which 
its roots delight to insinuate themselves, and that often so firmly 
as to render it next to impossible to extract the plants uninjured. 
For pot culture in a moist shady greenhouse or frame, a soil com- 
posed of equal parts of loam, peat, silver sand, and sandstone rock 
broken up into lumps of one or two inches diameter, should be 
employed, and the pots must be well drained, because, as it is neces- 
sary that the roots should be kept moist, provision must be made for 
the free passage of the water applied that it may not stagnate. The 
proportion of rocky material, for which soft broken brick is a 
passable substitute, may be even increased with advantage, the 
object being to provide for the moisture being drawn away from the 
crowns, whilst it laves the absorbing fibres of the roots. 
In out-door rockeries such species as the present would be 
benefited by the use of a kind of bell glass provided with a vent at 
the top, which may either be opened or closed at pleasure. The use 
of such a glass would be to retain something like a moist atmosphere 
about the plants during the arid summer months, and to shield the 
crowns from excess of wet in winter. If the aperture, or apertures, 
were but of moderate size both these objects would be secured 
without ever closing the glass, and thus risking another evil, from 
which mountain plants when brought under artificial culture, away 


