252 THE FLORIST. 



season, and the executive of each society will be preparing any altera- 

 tions in their respective schedules which the experience of the past may 

 render necessary, our advice to the exhibiting body is that they 

 make their desires know^n as early as possible to the respective 

 councils of each society. The Royal Botanic Society, however, have 

 liberally met the wishes of the exhibitors of the past season, which 

 has been responded to in a manner of which the society may 

 well congratulate themselves, as their hst of awards (published 

 in the Gardeners Chronicle) fully proves, and which, we regret to 

 state, stands out in broad relief to the very limited list of the Horticul- 

 tural Society. We hope this will no longer be the case ; for the 

 authorities in Regent Street may rest assured that a liberal schedule 

 would be met by an increased desire on the exhibitors' part to keep up 

 the character of the Chiswick fetes. 



REVIEW. 



A Plain and Easy Account of the British Ferns. Hardwicke, Carey 

 Street, London. 



This is an attempt to describe the different species of this charming 

 tribe of plants in words of common use, technical language being alto- 

 gether avoided. How far the author has succeeded may perhaps be 

 best illustrated by the following examples : — 



" ^ Sori contained in little two-valved vessels, which spring from the branch 



near the stem. 



Genus Htmenophtlixm. 



" Hymenophyllum Wilsoni. (Northern or Wilsons Fihmj Fern.) 

 Like Tunbridgense, but taller, and in proportion narrower. Stem curved 

 above, and branches inclining downwards. From 8 to 4 inches. When in 

 bearing, cups turning in one direction and leaves in the other. Seed-vessel 

 larger, more rounded valves, stalked, with smooth lips above, somewhat 

 like the end of a duck's bill, instead of being cut off and notched. Same situa- 

 tion and localities, though a trifle more common. Treatment as before." 



" ^ Sori naked, forming a fertile, branched, composite, spike, on the upper 



part of a barren, leafy, frond. 



Genus OSMUNDA. 



" OsMUXDA Regalis. (Floioeriug Fern.) Root tufted. From 2 to 4 

 feet in dry, from 8 to 12 feet in damp, sheltered, situations. Fronds spring- 

 ing up rather under one another. Branches far apart, and generally oppo- 

 site. Leaves simple, undivided, smooth, stalked, narrow, oblong, with more 

 or less of a protuberance at their base ; at first very tender, and of a reddish 

 colour, changing to a dull green, and slightly jagged throughout. Fertile 

 spike ordinarily the termination of the stem, and above the leaved branches 

 belonging to it, though sometimes the sori are produced on the branches 

 themselves, or even on the edge of a leaf. Fertile spikes fewer than 

 branches. Each stalked and oblong bunch of the spike composed of a suc- 

 cession of circular clusters of thecse, green at first, ripening into brown. 

 Deciduous. Comes out early. Common in marshes and damp situations. 

 Stem eventually tough and wiry. Easy of cultivation. Best transplanted 

 arge. Hardy. Though wanting in the graceful and elegant undulations 



