238 



The plan, which was first tried some half-dozen years 

 ago, has succeeded beyond expectation, and many kinds 

 which almost refused to grow before now flourish and give 

 no trouble. This note, however, is concerned not with the 

 general conditions of the " polypodery," but with its 

 behaviour this dry summer. Speaking comprehensively, 

 I may say that these ferns have actually done better in 

 the drought than before. One or two may be a little 

 shorter ; this is certainly the case with P. v. Ptdclievvinmm, 

 which usually attains to abnormal dimensions in a tall 

 stump ; on the other hand, some are taller, e.g. P. v. 

 Cvistatum Minor has ceased to be Minor by doubling its 

 usual size. 



But all show a luxuriance and fulness of development 

 which I have not noticed before. This is particularly the 

 case with the beautiful P. v. Tvichoumnoides and its near 

 relative P. v. Ekgantissimum, but it applies more or less tO' 

 all. Such growth, under such trying climatic conditions, 

 would have been less remarkable had artificial watering 

 been employed, but as a matter of fact the watering-pot 

 has not been used for the Polypodmms more than once or 

 twice during the season. 



H. KiNGSMILL MoORE, D.D. 



Cedar Mount, Dundrum. 



SOME FERN HOBBY EXPERIENCES. 



Every hobby-rider is, of course, particularly enamoured 

 of, and engrossed in, his own special pursuit, and it is a 

 good thing that it is so, since sincere enthusiasm in any 

 direction involving collection and studious research is 

 almost bound to add something to the general store of 

 knowledge by the investigation involved and the facts 

 ascertained and put on record which otherwise might have 

 been lost. There are, however, hobbies and hobbies, and 

 we may legitimately divide them into two categories, the 

 natural and the artificial. The artificial hobby may be 

 described as one which is entirely devoted to human handi- 



