200 



In the growing season a faint tinge of green should be 

 perceived in a week or two, indicating that the spores have 

 started growth, and this will be followed by the appearance 

 probably of a considerable number of little flat green scales 

 or prothalli. When these are about the size ot herring 

 scales, in a week or two more, the first little fronds of the 

 new generation may be expected to show themselves, each 

 little scale bearing, as a rule, one, and at this stage the 

 sowing may be pronounced a success, given, of course, the 

 precedent conditions of a pure culture. The connoisseur 

 can generally recognise the species by the shape of the 

 first fronds. At this point, if the plants are crowded 

 it is well to prepare a large pan with good leafy compost, 

 preferably scalded, and prick out the little plants into it 

 an inch apart. In this pan the plants should grow large 

 enough for recognition, and it is precisely at this stage that 

 the interests of selective spore sowing culminates so far as 

 selection is concerned. Any plants specially distinguished 

 can be transferred and brought on, while inferior ones can 

 be eliminated and destroyed, we say, advisedly, destroyed, 

 since it is no part of the true selector's business to bring on 

 and so occupy space which should be devoted only to im- 

 provement, or, at any rate, replicas of the thoroughbred 

 parents. 



Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 



THE "GRACILLIMUM " SHIELD FERNS. 



P. ACULEATUM PULCHERRIMUM GRACILLIMUM. 



Although this unique example of sudden mutation has 

 already been referred to on various occasions, it occurs to 

 me that it is of sufficient interest to justify a general 

 usume of its history as follows : — In 1876 a labouring man, 

 named Beavis, found in a hedge, in the vicinity of Dr. 

 Wills' house in Dorset, a large specimen of P. aculeatum, 

 the unusual appearance of which induced him to take it to 



