119 



It is difficult to draw any particular conclusion from the 

 facts of this case, but we think it merits record as a singular 

 example of how different environment may affect a varietal 

 form, and we should be glad to have particulars of other 

 cases which may have been observed of a like nature. It 

 is of course well known that varietal characters are a]^t 

 to be much less marked in plants which are out of con- 

 dition and stunted by unfavourable factors, but here the 

 changes have been accompanied and indeed appear due to 

 growth stimulated to the utmost and vigorous and healthy 

 from the start, although, since repotting was certainly 

 needed when the transfer was made to the open, the third 

 stage may possibly be due to root restriction. C. T. D. 



POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM 

 *' GRACILLIMUM." 



This very beautiful section of the Hard Shield Fern 

 family has been fully described and figured in the early 

 number of the Gazette (pp. 3, 24 and 50). Its sudden 

 appearance in a fair percentage of seedlings oipulchevriinum, 

 and its unique character, rendered it an interesting question 

 whether another sowing would give like results. Fortu- 

 nately last season another plant shewed spores, and these 

 being sown, our readers will be interested in learning that 

 the new and slender character is already clearly perceptible 

 in a number of the youngsters, so that a second batch of 

 acquisitions on similar, or, judging by the diversity in the 

 first batch, even new lines may be confidently anticipated 

 in the near future. Ed. 



NEW FERNS. 



At a recent visit to Messrs. H. B. May & Sons' Nurseries, 

 at Edmonton, we were shewn a new and improved form of 

 A. f.f. congestuin minns, into which '' setigeyum" blood has 

 apparently found its way ; the ultimate divisions of the 

 fronds being beautifully crispy and bristly, while the 



