68 



of the plants consisting of gigantic clumps, which have 

 remained undivided for many years. All the best varieties 

 were represented, the " King " of the Alale Ferns again and 

 again asserting his regal presence, Bollanda exhibiting 

 its depauperate character in an otherwise beautiful plant. 

 Padley's depanperata, in all its robust ugliness, together 

 with Polydactylas of Wills and lsl2i^\)\ehQck, pendens^ vevolvens^ 

 Pindeyii, Bavnesi, Wright's vamossissima, and many others too 

 numerous to particularise. The last group embraced the 

 Athyriums, and whilst the specimens themselves were very 

 fine, the varieties w-ere such as used to delight the hearts 

 of the early collectors and cultivators, none of the improved 

 varieties raised during the last twenty years having been 

 added. The old Axminster phimosum was in frequent 

 evidence, while suhplumosums, crested, cruciate, setigerum, 

 and other forms were plentifullly represented. The ease 

 -with which varietal forms can be raised, and the lack of 

 severely repressive measures in early days, doubtless 

 accounts for the endless numbers of indifferent crested 

 forms, which in those of the Cvaigii parentage predominate. 

 When at length our stomachs sought a quarrel with our 

 throats, we adjourned for lunch, with the promise of an 

 inspection of the reserve beds and seedlings to follow. 

 After a rest and a brief courtship of " My Lady Nicotine," 

 we resumed our quest and were rewarded by further 

 discoveries. Alany seedlings of great promise were noted 

 for future observation, and at length weary in body, and 

 with minds surfeited, we adjourned to our quarters to 

 rest and talk over the day's doings. 



The next morning broke dull and showery, but we 

 were tempted to return to the scene of the previous day's 

 exploits, and after another quiet look round and having 

 inspected some of Mr. Harris' dried fronds, we left the 

 gardens to make a call on Miss Jones, daughter of Colonel 

 Jones. 



When delivering a lecture on ferns and fern-growing 

 at Clifton in 1885, our Editor had been most hospitably 



