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of seedlings which already show the character quite dis- 

 tinctly. Emerging from the vestibule into the main temple 

 of fern-worship a bewildering array of large specimen 

 plants of rare and unique ferns meet the eye. Several 

 large plants of P. aculeatum gvacilliniwn, closely resembling 

 each other in general character, but ail varying in minute 

 points of detail, make an imposing show. These ferns are 

 now (end of October) at their best, and will doubtless 

 remain in full beauty all through the winter ; the peculiar 

 value of P. aculeatum as the most thoroughly evergreen of 

 our large-growing British ferns is here strikingly displayed. 

 All the gracillimums are gems of the first water, and I 

 venture to refer especially to P. a. gvacillimum dimorphum, 

 mainly because it has not, I believe, been hitherto 

 described. The fronds are somewhat narrower and pro- 

 portionately longer than in the other gracillimums, showing 

 more the outline of the parent pulcherrimum, but having, 

 along with the slender gracillimum character, a touch also 

 of plumosum, which makes a most charming combination. 

 A neighbouring plant is P. acul. plumosum Gveeuj a splendid 

 thing in which the pluQiosum character has been carried 

 to a pitch of perfection which it would have been difficult 

 to believe the species capable. Another fern to claim 

 attention was a fine piece of the "original" A. f.f. 

 Clavissima, and probably the only one which has been given 

 to the outer world by the family of the late Col. Jones, 

 with whose name this splendid fern is intimately asso- 

 ciated. Although at this season the fronds had assumed 

 the ivory-white of autumn, the fronds remained in the full 

 splendour of their form and habit. The long, raking 

 perfectly-formed fronds and grand symmetrical habit at 

 once distinguish the original from its aposporous offspring 

 and, fine as the latter can be when well grown, it must be 

 confessed that they cannot compare in grace and nobility 

 with the original. A small offset was detected springing 

 from the base of the main crown, and was immediately 

 detached and presented to the writer, a piece of generosity 

 for which I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude. 



