45 



new and un described progressive sports of various sorts; (3) 

 spore variations, both first and second generations of the single 

 known spore-fertile variety; and (4) a comparative study of the 

 variations of the once-pinnate forms of whatever origin with 

 special reference to their horticultural value. In addition, some 

 study has been made of analogous types of variations found 

 among wild species of native ferns. 



Numerous connections, by correspondence and personal visits, 

 have been established and continued with commercial florists about 

 New York City. During the summer two extended trips for this 

 purpose were made, one to Boston and its environs, and the other 

 covering Philadelphia, Washington, and Pittsburgh. The ex- 

 penses of these trips were covered by the grant of one hundred 

 and twenty-five dollars made for this purpose by the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science at its Toronto meet- 

 ing in 192 1. 



In connection with the study of the commercial value of the 

 once-pinnate varieties of Boston ferns, visits were made to twenty- 

 five or more retail florists of Greater New York. The Brooklyn 

 Botanic Garden Leaflet, " Ferns as house plants," reprinted from 

 the American Fern Journal for July-September, 1922, has been 

 distributed to a considerable number of florists. In the various 

 florists' trade periodicals of the United States, and in one or two 

 in England, there was published early in the year a copy of the 

 large chart of the genealogy of the Boston-fern varieties, exhibited 

 in 1 92 1 at the Boston Fern show of the Massachusetts Horticul- 

 tural Society, together with explanatory discussion. In the latter 

 part of the year, a series of articles under the general title " What 

 we know about Boston ferns " appeared weekly in the Florists' 

 Exchange. 



As a by-product of this study of Nephrolepis there may be 

 mentioned the fact that the summer culture of extra plants in 

 temporarily unoccupied greenhouse space and under lath shelter 

 in the experimental garden, resulted in surplus plants, numbering 

 over one thousand, many which have since been made use of in 

 classes for teachers and children. The majority of these ferns 

 were given to visiting classes for use in class rooms of Public 

 Schools. In connection with the study of the commercial value 



