115 



particular horticultural value, was of great botanical 

 interest, viz. a Lastrca, intermediate in character between 

 filix-mas and dilatata, and I think probably a hybrid 

 between the two species. It was growing horizontally 

 out of a perpendicular bank by the road side and had only 

 one frond, the rest having been probably broken off by the 

 wheels of carts, and the sticks, etc. of pedestrians. The 

 texture of the frond is that of filix-tnas, and the pinnules in 

 shape and cutting also resemble that species, but the 

 outline of the frond is more that of dilatata^ i.e. broadest at 

 the base and quickly tapering upwards. The pinuct are 

 also very deltoid in outline, and the stipes is as long as the 

 leafy part of the frond. The stipes was devoid of scales 

 (these probably having been rubbed off), but the scales on 

 the crown are concolorous and have the light brown hue 

 of those oijilix-mas. There are no signs of fructification, 

 although the plant is evidently an old one, having a 

 caudex six inches in length. Should the plant survive 

 and make good growth next year it will provide an 

 interesting study for the critical botanist. I need scarcely 

 say it will be well cared for. 



F. W. Stansfield. 

 Reading, August iSth, 1913. 



ROOT ROOM FOR FERNS; AND SOME 



EXPERIMENTS. 



In response to an invitation on p. 98, on the above 

 •subject, I should like to make some observations in respect 

 thereto. In the first place I must state that I know the 

 particular ferns referred to and, therefore, can testify as to 

 their condition, etc. when I last saw them, especially that 

 beautiful plumose Polystichum known as Baldwinii seedling, 

 a worthy descendant of the unique parent, the finest by 

 far of the Jones and Fox piumosums. But with that 

 unique and beautiful specimen vividly before the mind's 



