124 



It is, however, a superb thing, and I would not be with- 

 out it, so I think it will be conceded that these two ferns 

 area very fitting introduction to "My Fernery." In fact, 

 I may here say that these self-same plants have had so 

 much influence over a near neighbour of mine as to turn 

 him into a pteridologist ! His next step, therefore, ought 

 to be " incorporation " in the B.P.S. 



Other Polystichums of the phimoso-divisilohim type are 

 Gviminondii, laxtim, and densiim Fox ; while pUimosmns proper 

 — only a degree or two less beautiful — are represented by 

 Moley, Patey, and WoUaston, all, by the way, true wild 

 finds. To still recede slightly we have such good things 

 as Crawfoydianum, decompositum Pearson, cvistaUim Ivery, 

 gvandidens Fitt, acvocladon Mapplebeck, cvistaUim and longi- 

 pinnatum Carbonell, pevfecUim and nitescens Jones, and that 

 silken beauty setoso-cuncatum Phillips. 



Longipinnatum and nitescens came my way through Mr. 

 Whitwell. The former makes a splendid basket plant, 

 while the latter nitescens would be equally suitable, for the 

 fronds are exceedingly soft and lax. 



Turning now from the Soft Shield Ferns it will perhaps 

 be pardonable, under the circumstances, if I refer with 

 more gusto to the Hard Shield section. 



Although the varieties here are few comparatively, there 

 is one which is not only "beautiful " but unique — P. acnlea- 

 tum pulchevvimnm. This fern, then, is a host in itself, and 

 is, just now, in special favour with Mr. Druery and 

 myself, for the sporing of this previously presumed sterile 

 variety in " My Fernery," in 1903, has resulted in such a 

 progeny of symmetrical youngsters that superlatives seem 

 superfluous to specify their superiority. 



They must be seen to be appreciated. As, however, 

 this unique evolution or break-away from the parent 

 form has been well told in the " Gazette," and other 

 journals, I will content myself by referring to the illustra- 

 tion, where in the middle distance, and nearly central, my 

 plnmosiun appears ; and on either side and above some 



