91 



peculiar tendency to twist in the fronds, which detracts 

 from the beauty of all the many specimens now extant, 

 which were raised by apospory at the time of the discovery, 

 was not inherited, since the original plant is not only more 

 robust and much larger, but has the fronds perfectly flat. 

 Thanks to Miss Jones's kindness and recognition of my 

 peculiar association with this charming fern, I am now the 

 fortunate owner of one of the divisions, which at the present 

 moment promises to be a full-sized specimen this season. 

 It is a curious fact that the growths observed at the time of 

 the discovery were far larger and very different in form to 

 any subsequently noted, those of the following season 

 being so altered, indeed, that it seemed doubtful whether 

 they would act in the same way. Fortunately, however, 

 they too produced plants, and thus enabled a confirmation 

 of my original report to be effected by Professor Bower. 

 It remains to be seen whether the original type will recur, 

 now that the original plant is under my own observation. 



C. T. D. 



THE DECORATIVE VALUE OF OUR 

 NATIVE FERNS.— II.- 



If we turn from the natural haunts of ferns, and consider 

 them in connection with our own gardens, we shall at once 

 perceive how readily they can be made to decorate places 

 where little else will grow. There are few houses, great 

 or small, whose grounds do not contain nooks and corners 

 where the sun's rays seldom come. If there are also walls 

 and shrubs so arranged as to supply shelter from rough 

 winds, such spots are ideal for ferns. The absence of sun 

 ensures sufficient moisture ; the one thing needful is to 

 make any necessary provision for drainage. Our experi- 

 ence of the decorative methods which ferns adopt when 



'■' Reprinted by permission of The Guardian, 



