


286 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
Siberia, in the region of Lake Baikal; and in Kulu in the Punjab, on 
the southern slope of the Himalaya. In Americait is found among 
the mountains of Massachusets, at Saskatchawan, and in the Rocky 
Mountains. In the same region, about Great Bear Lake, and on 
the islands of Davis's Straits, occurs the Woodsia glabella of Brown, 
which has probably small claim to specific rank, and is rather to be 
considered as a somewhat: more slender state of W. alpina, in which 
the few hairs found on the latter, and which themselves replace the 
scales of JV. ilvensis, have altogether disappeared. 
The Woodsias are best cultivated in moderate-sized well-drained 
pots, kept in a cold frame, facing the north in the summer-season ; 
and they should have a moderate degree of ventilation. They are 
very impatient of sunshine and stagnant moisture, although prefer- 
ring a damp cool atmosphere. The crown of the plants may, in 
potting, be advantageously elevated a little between two or three 
thin pieces of sandstone, and neither erowns nor roots must be kept 
too damp, especially during winter, though the opposite extreme 
must be avoided. A shady shelf in a cool greenhouse, where there 
is a free circulation of air, or a dryish cold frame, are good situations 
in which to preserve them during the dormant season. When it 
becomes necessary to divide the tufts, which is the most ready means 
of propagation, it should be done very carefully in spring about the 
time they commence their seasonal growth; but it is wiser in the 
case of a plant that has become well established, not to disturb the 
roots. In obtaining them from their wild habitats for the purpose 
of cultivation, as with most others of the rare Ferns, it is found 
that small plants are much more successfully transplanted than the 
larger and older masses. We prefer to use a mixture of pure light 
loam and sand with a small proportion of peat, and charcoal, 
between the stones in potting, as being more evenly retentive of 
moisture than a lighter compost. Mr. Backhouse hints that, after 
being once planted, the less they are disturbed at the root the 
better. 

