ii8 



ferns are doing well, but No. 2 is twice as large as No. i. 



No, 3. A fine form of Scol. v. supralincatiim w^as potted 

 in pure limestone, after the roots had been washed. No. 4. 

 A similar plant was potted in ordinary compost. In this 

 case also No. 4. is twice the size of No. 3. Whether these 

 conditions will be maintained another season remains to be 

 seen, but I should think that when the roots of Nos. i. and 

 3 accommodate themselves to their environment there is 

 sure to be accelerated growth. On the other hand one 

 would imagine that the limestone particles possessed the 

 greater power of holding water, and that, as a result, these 

 ferns would have developed freely. Possibly these 

 particles do not lie close enough although, in watering, 

 the sediment which escapes is religiously returned. Thus 

 a saucer here is a sine qua non, otherwise the fern fronds 

 underneath the stage would suffer discolouration, although 

 the water is not allowed to remain therein. 



As a matter of fact, it is somewhat difficult to estimate 

 the amount of water required for these particular plants, 

 the usual signs — such as sound or weight of pot — being 

 absent. Still, one can hardly -waterlog the soil, as the 

 drainage thereof may well be considered perfect. The 

 plants, however, though small comparatively, are in 

 satisfactory health, the development being quite on normal 

 lines. Here then, apparently, we have the same effect as 

 in half-size pots — stunted growth and retarded develop- 

 ment. It will, however, be well to wait, and to w^atch 

 this experiment another season, and to chronicle results. 



C. 13. Green. 



