AUGUST. 189 



least, on comparing the exotic species of that genus with the present 

 plant, I can discover no difference whatever. There are several beau- 

 tiful forms of Athyrium filix foemina, but the onlj^ British Fern that 

 it is in any way likely to be confounded with is Lastrsea Oreopteris, as 

 I have more than once found them growing in company ; but in the 

 latter the pinnae are pinnatifid, whereas in Athyrium filix foemina 

 the pinnules are distinct on the partial rachis and deeply cut on their 

 margins. Besides the present subject, there are several more re- 

 corded species of British Athyriums ; but as 1 am not yet certain that 

 they have any claim to rank as such, I shall pass them by for the 

 present, and take the different forms of A. filix foemina, which are 

 easily cultivated, especially if planted in light sandy loam with a 

 small portion of peat, and in a well- sheltered situation, though they 

 are usually found in naturally moist shady places by the sides of 

 streams. The mountain and rocky forms are doubtless the effect of 

 the situations they occupy. 



A. FILIX FCEMiNA, var. cRispuM. This splendid monstrosity was 

 detected in Ireland, 1 believe, by iMr. Smith, gardener to A. Ander- 

 son, Esq., the Holme, Regent's Park. The fronds are for the most 

 part much and irregularly divided, and the pinnules deeply laciniated 

 and tufted ; so much so that the whole plant, when well grown, has 

 much the appearance of a bunch of curled parsley. 



A. FILIX FCEMixA, var. BiFiDUM. We are indebted, I believe, to 

 W. Moore of the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, Dublin, for this noble 

 form of A. filix foemina ; the pinnae are divided at the extremity, w^hich 

 will readily distinguish it from any other Fern. 



A. FILIX FOEMINA, var. PR^iioRsuM. This singular form was 

 detected by Dr. Dickie of Aberdeen, on Ben Muich Dhu, a mountain 

 in Aberdeenshire, near the Highland residence of her Majesty. The 

 pinnules have much the appearance of being bitten by an insect ; and, 

 in fact, the whole plant is stamped with the appearance of a very 

 distinct form, as it appears to retain the same characters under cul- 

 tivation which it possessed when I was favoured with it from Dr. 

 Dickie two years ago. I possess a strange-looking Fern from rocks 

 by the sea- side, in which the pinnules are much overlapped, and ex- 

 tremely obtuse, and the fronds inclining to a horizontal direction, 

 whereas in the original form they are usually erect. The above 

 characters have proved constant for three years in cultivation. I 

 have seen several other forms, but less striking in their characters ; 

 consequently I am not disposed to record them at present. 



Foot's Cray. R. Sim. 



A CHAPTER ON ROSES. 



[Extracted from our Transatlantic contemporary, the Horticultnrist^ a clever 

 periodical, edited by Mr. Downing. — Ed.] 



A FRESH bouquet of midsummer Roses stands upon the table before 

 us. The morning dew-drops hang, heavy as emeralds, upon branch 

 and buds ; soft and ricli colours delight the eye with tlieir lovely 



