264 



FERNS, ETC., IN AIRTIGHT BOTTLES. 



In order that a definite record of a very peculiar case 

 in tliis connection should appear in print in so appropriate 

 a publication as "The British Fern Gazette," I reproduce 

 here my paper as read in December, 1908, to the Linnean 

 Society, with the explanation that the said Society having 

 informed me at the time that they could only insert it with 

 the remark that they did not undertake any responsibility 

 for its correctness, I naturally resented this as a slur 

 upon my reputation as a careful observer, and conse- 

 quently withdrew the paper altogether rather than 

 submit to it. In view of the evidence produced 

 I am confident our men:bers will approve my deci- 

 sion. I am the more induced to recur to this matter 

 as the identical bottle still exists in my fernery, with its 

 contents undisturbed, and, extraordinary to relate, at the 

 time of writing (January 28th, 1915 — that is, fully ten years 

 from its first installation, 1904) it still contains as a living 

 green plant one of the seedling Lastreas mentioned, 

 though, be it particularly noted, not a single drop of water 

 has been introduced during the whole period in addition to 

 the minute quantity originally present in the wet sand. 

 The tightly-fitting stopper has, of course, been used all 

 the time to prevent evaporation. The complete paper 

 runs as follows : — 



The Hartstongue Fern (Scolopendvium vulgare) possesses 

 the faculty of producing a number of bulbils on detached 

 portions of the extreme bases of its fronds if these be 

 pulled away from the central caudex, laid upon wet sand, 

 exposed to light and kept close. i\s many as thirty-six such 

 buds have been noted on a single base about an inch long. 

 There are no incipient buds at the outset, and those 

 produced originate at any point on the surface, or on cut 

 surfaces if the bases be severed into several pieces, I 

 exhibit a glass-stoppered bottle showing such a base with 



