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from plants a few inches long only, up to others of as 

 many feet. From the wild examples of such varied types, 

 the selective cultivator — by sowing their spores and 

 profiting by the experience that spores or seeds collected 

 from plants which have once sported away from the 

 normal type are apt to vary again — they have been 

 able to add another large number of *' improved " types, 

 some of which constitute undoubtedly the most beautiful 

 Ferns the world possesses. So much, indeed, is this 

 the case, that although our other native species — such 

 as the Buckler Ferns, Lady Ferns, and Hartstongues 

 — have each yielded an abundant store of wild sports 

 producing similar results of improved offspring in the same 

 way, the Fern specialist almost — indeed, we might say 

 invariably — becomes in time a Polystichum specialist by 

 preference. The Lady Fern [Athyrhim filix joemina) has 

 indeed eclipsed the Polystichum in the range of fashions 

 assumed by her, a number of which are unique among the 

 ferns of the world, and does her best to rival it, by the 

 feathery character of her "plumosums," but is handicapped 

 by her deciduousness and consequent invisibility for six 

 months in the year, while the evergreen Polystichum under 

 congenial conditions can be kept beautiful the whole year 

 round. In the spring growth, too, the Polystichum 

 possesses an unique charm, particularly with its best 

 plumose forms, its new crop of fronds being then clothed 

 with almost snow-white scales, and rising in a series of 

 reflexed coils of a surpassing beauty of its very own. For 

 all-round charm on the most varied lines, Polystichum 

 angulave must therefore be recognised as an easy first 

 among our native species, and in the foremost rank in the 

 Fern world generally. Great as have been the achieve- 

 ments of the selective cultivator in connection with this 

 species, fresh triumphs are being frequently added, an 

 example of which has recently come before us, raised by 

 Mr. R. Bolton, of Warton, near Carnforth, from a mixed 

 sowing of a number of fine forms. To give an idea of the 



