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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



Among this legion of species, there exist all possible 

 differences in size, leaf shape, habit of growth, et al., 

 from tiny Alonogramme, with its thread like leaves, to 

 a giant tree fern with a stem eighty feet tall and leaves 

 spreading twenty-five feet, and many times divided. 

 What characteristics do these extremes, together with the 

 multiplicity of types between them, have in common? 

 In other words, what is a fern? 



If we examine a mature fern leaf, we may find our 

 answer most simple. No matter what the general shape 

 or size of the leaf may be, there are two characters which 

 are always distinctive. First, fern leaves develop from 

 the bud by unrolling, much as one might uncoil a watch- 

 spring. Second, fern leaves bear spores, generally on 

 the back of the leaf. The leaves of flowering plants 

 never produce spwres. Spores are microscopic cells by 

 which new plants may be produced. They are always 

 produced in tiny spore cases (sporangia) which are ar- 

 ranged in dots, lines or patches. It is on the basis of 

 the arrangement of the spore cases that scientists classify 

 the thousands of fern species. Secondarily, of course. 



The widest and most popular appeal of ferns lies in 

 their availability as plants for the house or conservatory. 

 For this purpose millions of plants are grown every year 

 in the United States. The choice of the proper kind 

 to grow depends on the surrounding and care that can 

 be given. There is no plant that can thrive or even live 

 in a poorly lighted room filled with the fumes of burned 

 illuminating gas. Given good conditions of light and air, 

 and reasonable attention to the thirst of the plant, there 

 are several species of ferns which may be expected to 

 live and continue to grow reasonably well in an ordinary 

 dwelling. 



Our native ferns do not give us any good house plants. 

 Many people will testify to this after trying repeatedly 

 to domesticate some fern of the woods or mountains 

 brought home from some vacation or holiday trip. Such 

 plants may maintain a good appearance for some weeks 

 and so serve a useful purpose, but they cannot be ex- 

 pected to continue indefinitely as they were or to make 

 any vigorous new growth. Among tropical ferns there 

 is a great deal of variation in adaptability to house cul- 



Courtesy of W. A. Manila 



Collection of Seven I'ascs of Ciholiums, Filling a Large Corner of the Hall. Exhibit of IV. A. Manda. 



classification is based on the shape of the leaf, whether 

 it is undivided or simple, once divided or pinnate, or 

 two, three, or more times divided. 



The development of a fern spore is interesting but 

 rather obscure. If sown under proper conditions of soil, 

 moisture, etc., each spore may grow into a flattish green 

 scale, about half as big as a little finger nail. These may 

 often be found in greenhouses, growing on the sides of 

 pots which are kept moist. This scale (prothaUium) lives 

 independently, and may eventually produce se.K organs 

 and cells. With the union of the latter, a beginning of 

 a new ordinary fern plant has been made. 



ture. We may distinguish a few as best for the home, 

 but recognize that others are w'orth buying in the form 

 of the beautiful plants raised by the florists to be renewed 

 from time to time as one buys fresh flowers. 



The number of kinds one may grow can l>e consider- 

 ably extended if conservatory space is available, or if 

 a miniature conservatory, the so-called Wardian case is 

 used. In Bailey's "Cyclopsedia of Horticulture," approxi- 

 mately four hundred and fifty species are described as in 

 the American trade or likely to come into it. The cur- 

 rent catalog of an English fern grower lists over two 

 thousand species and varieties as offered. It may be 



