18 



where. Will it be seriously asserted that every recognised " species " 

 possesses as good a case ? 



It has been suggested that the great variety of British ferns is 

 largely due to the sustained searching and propagation carried on 

 here by enthusiasts ever since the " fern-fever " period of about the 

 " sixties " of last century. This is difficult to decide upon, but one 

 piece of evidence for the theory is the case of the so-called " Boston 

 Ferns." These fine forms of ?\'ep/irolepis exaltata, the exotic "Sword 

 Fern," arose in cultivation in the United States, became very popular 

 there, and were afterwards extensively developed in this country, as 

 well as other species of the same genus. The many crested types 

 of Pteris cretica also create the suspicion that demand caused by 

 popularity, resulting in assiduous search for new^ beauties, may in 

 time do for many exotics what has been so well noted in British 

 ferns. 



In concluding, apology must be made for the inevitable monotony 

 of the long list of names, with the hope that the few fronds exhibited 

 will lend life-interest to the matter. If anyone is desirous of fiu-ther 

 following up this fascinating chapter in biology, one can confidently 

 recommend joining the British Pteridological Society, the annual 

 subscription of 5s. carrying the issues of the "British Fern Gazette" 

 with it. Each addition to our membership helps to safeguard our 

 native fern flora by concentrating eflbrt in the culture of the splendid 

 varietal forms, instead of, as in the case of the " unattached " fern- 

 lover, merely helping the " vandal with sack and trowel" to rob our 

 countryside of its beauty. 



[Note. — The lecture was " punctuated " by a number of fronds 

 being exhibited, and especial interest was manifested in the "divi- 

 sible" and "plumose" Shield-ferns, as is usually the case. A 

 number of questions was raised, such as (1) the problem of " plumose " 

 barren forms being cases of diverted spore-formation energy ; (2) 

 why varieties, easily cultivated under glass, die out in Nature ; (3) 

 the " economic " uses of ferns. It was replied that many cases of 

 freely-fertile " plumosums " are also known ; (2) that the ravages 

 of minute creatures, such as Fodura, may have much to do in 

 destroying fallen spores, or prothalli also ; and much of the varia- 

 tion means less robust "leafage," so that the normals prevail by 

 smothering the new-comer ; (b) a few details such as the production 

 of " capillaire " from fern fronds ; the eating of fern rhizomas or 

 of young fronds such as bracken, in times of famine ; the uses of 

 the fronds as packing material or as litter were instanced, and 

 reference made to the many old beliefs in medicinal virtues of 

 ferns.] 



