MARCH. 57 



at figs. 2 and 6 in the plate, then the cap or upper lip ou;;ht to be 

 nicely spotted or marked, as they are there represented ; but when 

 the markinn^s are densely gathered into the centre only, as at fig. 1, 

 then I think it would be decidedly out of character to have the cap 

 marked, as that would break the continuity of the belting. Although 

 the ground-colour of the margin of figs. 3 and 7 is a little broken ])y 

 spots, yet the dense markings in the centre, and the prevailing quan- 

 tity of ground-colour in the margin, warrant the cap to partake of 

 the ground-colour free of spots. Figs. 4 and 5, being more regularly 

 marked all over the surface, would have been more in character with 

 marked or spotted caps. 



In selfs or clouded varieties — varieties much wanted — clearness, 

 richness, and brilliancy of colour are essential points. 



I know no family of plants in which so many distinct varieties 

 may be produced without perplexity or confusion, nor one in which 

 so many decided improvements have been made as regards form, 

 markings, and richness of colour. And still much remains to be 

 done ; and I think we ought to be particularly careful, while we aim 

 at perfection, not to discard for some trifling defect, new, rich, and 

 distinct varieties, until decidedly better flowers in the same class are 

 produced. Up to the present time, attention to form has prevailed 

 to the almost total exclusion of beauty and richness of colour in the 

 markings. Form is undoubtedly a grand desideratum, but beauty 

 and richness of colour are, in my opinion, at least its equals, and 

 neither should prevail to the total exclusion of the other. 



Knosthorpe near Leeds, Jan. 7, 1851. Henry Major. 



REMAPtKS ON BRITISH FERNS. 



No. III. 



ASPLENIUM. 



A. sKPTENTRiONALE. In the wild state of this truly Alpine British 

 Fern, we usually find the fronds once divided, with the segments 

 toothed at the extremity ; but I have nevertheless had it under cul- 

 tivation with the fronds repeatedly divided, and each division having 

 several linear segments, which were also deeply toothed at their ex- 

 tremities, and in this state of development it forms a very handsome 

 tuft from three to four inches high. It requires to be well established 

 in pots, if intended for the fernery ; and then, notwithstanding that 

 it is an inhabitant of bleak, arid, and lofty mountains, it requires a 

 well- sheltered nook, with a soil consisting of peat, loam, and silver- 

 sand. Like most other Ferns, out-of-doors it requires to be protected 

 from the attacks of slugs. It is not particularly rare ; but its habitats 

 are not always very accessible to the collector. 



A. viRiDE. This pretty little Fern for the most part inhabits 

 the crevices of moist shady rocks in sub-alpine countries ; and in 

 some of these I have seen it extremely luxuriant, in short producing 



