145 
receive preference over general applications, but all will be served 
as far as possible. If general applications are made for the pur- 
pose of building up collections of varieties, the request for speci- 
mens should include a list of the kinds already being grown, to 
avoid duplication. 
ot all the varieties listed here are available for distribution, 
although there is a much larger assortment than last year. Some 
have only recently been received from England, and there has 
been insufficient time for propagation of small plants. Others, 
especially some in the second group, are very slow to reproduce, 
or are so large and require so much space that it has not been 
possible to give them bench room. In general, the varieties in 
the second group are mostly of little commercial value in the 
United States except for large collections. 
Perhaps the collection can find its greatest value for florists as 
a clearing house of information about Nephrolepis forms. How 
this might work out was suggested recently by a well-known 
grower of the New York district. As president of one of the 
local growers’ associations he had had occasional requests for an 
opinion as to the value and distinctiveness of some supposedly 
new form of Nephrolepis, sent in by some florist of the district. 
The only means of answering such a question would be by refer- 
ence to some practically complete collection of these forms. The 
writer will be glad to answer questions along this line and regard- 
ing any other phase of interest in connection with these ferns. 
Visitors are welcome at any time. 
RatpH Curtiss BENEDICT 
NEPHROLEPIS EXALTATA AND ITS VARIETIES 
Once-Pinnate Forms 
evaltata. Wild species, tropics genera 
PS sie F. C. Becker, een ree and others. 
Childs. J. L. Childs, Floral Ranks 
Dreyert Dreyer there, Whitestone, N. Y. 
Dwarf Boston. F. R. Pierson, Tarrytown, N. Y. 
Edmontoniensis. H,. B. May & Sons, Upper Edmonton, England. 
falcata. Peter Wagner, Brooklyn, N. Y. (There is also an English 
falcata.) 
Gretnai. B. M. Wichers & Co., Gretna, Louisiana. 
