^ JO 



OUR FRONTISPIECE. 



SCOLOPENDRIUM VULG. SAGGITATO GRANDICEPS DrUERY. 



Thanks to the generosity of our energetic member, Mr. 



T. E. Henwood, we are enabled to present a very fine 



photo of this imique variety. It is peculiarly interesting 



as representing one of nine similar plants which arose 



from a sowing of spores taken from a wild frond of a 



merely sub-saggitate forked "sport" (lobatum) found in 



Cornwall. The rest of the crop varied from normal to 



the wild parental type and yet spores subsequently sown 



from the form depicted are all true to the new type with 



no reversions, so that the " mutation " is obviously quite 



fixed. In some fronds the three crests are united into one 



ball-like one, but always with the triple midrib. 



Editor. 



FERNS UNDER TREES. 



There are many gardens which contain considerable 

 areas under the shade of trees where apparently nothing 

 will grow because, although the shade may be favourable 

 to some plants such as ferns, the roots of the trees occupy 

 the soil to such an extent that nothing else can obtain 

 sufficient nutriment or moisture. We may dig in fresh 

 soil and manure, etc., but this only serves to stimulate the 

 roots of the trees to fresh efforts, and they quickly regain 

 complete possession. These positions can be furnished 

 and beautified by ferns in pots. It is often thought that 

 pot ferns in the open-air are a failure unless the pots can 

 be plunged in so:ne moisture-holding medium. If this 

 be used it is immediately invaded, as are also the pots, by 

 the underlying roots. If, however, the pots be stood in 

 saucers on the surface, the soil in the pots is completely 

 isolated from the ground and its pervading roots. The 

 saucers also serve to keep out worms, which, however 

 beneficial they may be to plants in the open ground, are 



