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In connection with this article we reproduce a descrip- 

 tion of Mr. Henwood's Collection, as follows : — 



Variation in the Common Polypody. 



Although naturally, as an ardent student of our British 

 Fern varieties for more than thirty years, I have seen many 

 collections in which the above species in its numerous 

 varietal forms has been well grown, and the particular 

 character of each has been well developed, a recent visit to 

 two collections — viz. those of Mr. T. E. Henwood and of 

 Dr. F. W. Stansfield, both of Reading — have literally 

 astounded me as to the capacity of development which 

 may be induced by perfect culture of this species. 



As a rule, we find the varieties or " sports " accommo- 

 dated in pots or shallow pans, but in both these collections 

 they are growing in beds protected, in the case of Dr. 

 Stansfield, by a large ordinary frame, and in that of 

 Mr. Henwood by a greenhouse. In both practically all 

 the varieties of value were present, and growing with such 

 luxuriance that the fronds not only formed bushes, but 

 where, under pot or pan culture, they are rarely more than 

 a foot high, here, in many cases, they were double that 

 length, or even more, while the division and subdivision of 

 the divided and plumose varieties were carried to an extent 

 which I have never witnessed elsewhere. 



To deal with Mr. Henwood's collection as permitting of 

 a more comprehensive and effective view than that 

 obtainable under frame culture, I found it installed in a 

 wide bed extending along the whole side of the greenhouse. 

 The soil was deep, and composed of an admixture of 

 friable loam and leaf-mould, the latter largely predomina- 

 ting, so that the compost was very free and open, thus 

 permitting the travelling rhizomes of the species to 

 penetrate deeply and travel freely. Each specimen or 

 variety had obviously been planted sufficiently far apart to 

 prevent, at any rate for some time, any crowding or 



