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developments in Ferns are to be expected by and by, seeing 

 that hitherto hunters have gathered in their natural habitats 

 so many of the loveliest varieties we have, and these have 

 given seedlings of astonishing forms. Therefore, when 

 hybrids are raised from these variegated sorts, it is quite 

 evident that the colouring will repeat in the youngsters, 

 with even other characteristics we as yet wot not of. Ere 

 we conclude our notes we have a look at the Osmunda rei^alis 

 undulata, from the Azores, and O. v. intevnipta (Phillips), a 

 pair of fine varieties, also a form of Osmunda widnlata found 

 by Mr. Phillips near Recess, in Galway, similar to the 

 Azores form, with vevolvens, and others equally curious. 

 Near by we find Lastvea Padley's depaupevatuiHy as also Lastrea 

 filix mas Bavnesii, a fine memento of a great Fern friend it 

 is. Altogether we have but skimmed over the " ken- 

 speckle " varieties, leaving unrecorded the countless regular 

 forms and less notable ones, but time and tide, not to 

 speak of dinner, wait not, so we bid Mr. Phillips adieu, 

 having seen and enjoyed a Fern paradise such as we have 

 not experienced before, and with a guide who combines the 

 knowledge and the gift of imparting it in a high degree, not 

 to speak of the geniality and enthusiasm he displays and 

 provokes in others. 



ERRATIC FERN SPORES.* 



By the term " erratic " we mean in this case such spores 

 from a constant parental form as will yield very diverse 

 progeny, not merely on one occasion, but, as a rule, 

 successive sowings from different annual crops yielding 

 similar results. As is well known, when once the normal 

 type of a plant has broken into an abnormal one, yielding 

 a "sport," the seed or spore, as a rule, inherits the 

 peculiarity ; but it is also a well-recognised fact by all 

 selective cultivators that the peculiarity may appear in 

 different grades in the progeny, being more emphasised in 

 some and less in others, the more emphasised cases 

 -'^ By permission of the Gardeners' Magazine. 



