8; 



hard, dry loam ; the aspect south. Under these hard con- 

 ditions, had not the fern been found, it could never have 

 developed into the fine specimen it afterwards did, vide 

 illustration. 



SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE RaMO — GrANDICEPS KiRBY 



In my rambles I have found many pretty crested 

 Hartstongues and other varieties, mostly of forms already 

 in cultivation, but I invariably find them growing under 

 hard and uncongenial conditions, in the crevices of old 

 stone walls, bridges, hard dry banks, etc. 



The question of the cause of fern variation has ever 

 been present with me. I have not yet solved the mystery, 

 although I have my own pet theory on the subject, but I 

 think that if any of our members who may be fortunate 

 enough to find a good thing would take special notice of 

 the conditions under which it grew, — the soil, the aspect 

 and general environment, the experiences of many thus 



