147 



in mind, one has often to consider what may be called each 

 fern's individual " cussedness.'' Many an anxious moment, 

 for instance, have I been caused by my plant of S. v. cvispiuii 

 fimhriatnm. Over and over again have I had to give it first 

 aid in the shape of a good soak in tepid water, while a 

 healthy plant of A. f. f. supeybum percvistatum did not 

 require watering half as often, though grown under very 

 similar conditions. What the reason is I have not yet 

 found out, all I know is that that particular hart's-tongue 

 has given me more trouble than all the rest put together. 



The prothalli, too, have given some trouble. It is fatal, 

 of course, to let them get dry, but I have found it easy to 

 keep them too wet. One starts with sterilised soil, but 

 by-and-by fungoid growth of varjous sorts make an 

 appearance. A certain amount of green does not seem to 

 matter much, but sometimes a kind of black slime appears 

 (the nature of which I would like to know). This slime is 

 certainly not good for the prothalli, and is very difficult to 

 get rid of. Transplanting on to fresh sterilised soil is not 

 always effective, as one usually cannot help transferring 

 some of the slime along with the prothalli. 



A constant source of sadness to me is my lack of decent 

 tinds. Like other fern enthusiasts, one dreams of finding 

 some magnificent cvispum Hartstongue or a heavily 

 tasselled male Fern that will put existing forms to shame. 

 But somehow they don't come. I have spent holidays in 

 districts that are heavily ferned, and in which one feels 

 sure there must be something good. But so far a rather 

 ordinary vamose Hartstongue (which I have graciously 

 labelled S. v. vamosuin Rowlands !) and a crested Blechimm 

 (unfortunately not quite constant) are about all I can 

 claim to have found in the way of varieties. One is 

 inclined to talk of bad luck, l)ut I think there is a better 

 reason. I have found some very interesting flowers, and I 

 have paid a good deal of attention to ihe grasses, it is 

 not, therefore, that one has not the ability or the desire, to 



