16 



^' Linnfean Society's Journal— Botany," vol. xxi. Further notes 

 are in vols. xxii. and xxix.-xxx. These observations were carried 

 on by Prof. T. 0. Bower (" Annals of Botany," vol. i., p. 300, etc.), 

 and the natural result has been that, in many scientific circles he is 

 credited with the discovery of Apospory. He carefully gives the 

 credit to Mr. Druery, however, as may be seen in several places, 

 particularly in his " Origin of a Land Flora," a book of overwhelm- 

 ing interest to the fern -lover. 



Sometimes we find the normal archegonia and antheridia absent 

 from the underside of the fern prothallus, and the " fern-plant " 

 produced thereon from asexu3,l buds, a sort of parthenogenesis, in 

 fact. This is called " Apogamy," and is of great interest in culture 

 for several reasons, but especially when attempts at " crossing " are 

 being made. To find a pure crop of both species where hybrids are 

 reasonably expected is extremely puzzling until it is realised that 

 one or both of the attempted " parents " are apogamous. 

 This is the case with Nephrodiidn psei(do-)iiaft and its 

 varieties, and so, although the " King of the Male Ferns," is quite 

 easy to raise from spores, we are unable to blend its unique beauty 

 with other forms. (As the subject of hybridization has been raised, 

 it may be stated at once that there are several well-authenticated 

 examples of crossing of fern varieties and even species. A specimen 

 is shown of a cross between two forms of the common Polypody, 

 viz., P. rahiare var. cornubiense, a finely dissected plant x P. nihiare 

 var, )itiiltifidiiiii, a crested variety. The hybrid has the undoubted 

 characters of both parents. A beautiful fern of horticultural origin 

 is Pohjpodinni Schneider ianiiiii, derived from crossing the same variety 

 of our P. vuli/are (cor nub ie use) with the great exotic P. aureinii, and 

 there are a number of other proved instances, as well as many 

 suspected hybrids of wild origin.) To finish with the question of 

 " apogamy," it may occasionally be found actually combined with 

 " apospory," in fact the amount of research opened up by this one 

 phase of our fern life is wonderful. Further information may be 

 found in "Linn. Trans.," vol. ii., part xiv. (Prof. Bower); ".Jour. 

 Linn. Soc," vol. xxxiv., no. 227, p. 262-7, a paper by Dr. F. W. 

 Stansfield ; and also in " Phil. Trans. Royal Society," vol. 190 

 (1898), pp. 187-228 (W. H. Lang, M.B., B.Sc). 



In addition to the usual propagation by spores, and these two 

 aberrant processes, we find buds or "bulbils" produced freely on the 

 fronds of many ferns, which are easily raised asexually in this 

 manner. Offsets from the main plant afford another method of 

 increase, including cases of creeping rootstocks. Some prothalli, 

 notably those of Osiintnda rei/alis, creep about like a Liverwort, and 

 may cover the surface of a pot with young plants. Finally, a very 

 interesting process is adopted, of especial use when barren plumose 

 varieties are concerned, i.e., by " induced bulbils." In the Harts- 

 tongue, frond bases are carefully pulled away, washed, and laid on 

 clean damp sand in a covered glass jar, away from direct sunlight. 



