Comptonia 
asplenifolia. 
122 ARBORETUM NOTES. 
MYRICACEZE. 
COMPTONIA ASPLENIFOLIA. 
One bought by me in 1860 (?) from Ewing of — 
Norwich, and planted on a shady slope on the 
southern margin of the arboretum. Isnow (1879) 
tolerably thriving, but small, not above two feet 
high, has never done more than tolerably well here, 
never been thoroughly vigorous ; probably the soil 
does not suit it, and it would do better in a heath 
soil. I have seen it of much finer growth in the 
Woking cemetery. 
This is an interesting plant, both for its name 
which commemorates one (Compton, Bishop of 
London), who had a principal share in the intro- 
duction of exotic plants into Britain, and who is 
well deserving of botanical commemoration; and 
for the singularity of its leaves. These have been 
compared to the fronds of a fern, indeed the 
likeness is sufficiently striking to have gained for 
this shrub, in America, the popular name of Sweet 
Fern, by which it is well known, yet its leaves 
have but a vague resemblance to any Fern that 
I know; but they are remarkably similar 
(especially in outline) to those of several 
Australian Proteacee of the genera Banksia and 
Dryandra; insomuch that, in mere drawings or 
impressions, they could with difficulty be dis- 
tinguished. The Comptonia isa native of North 
America; from Canada to Virginia, according 
