A HUGE NEPHROLEPIS 



Figure 9. N. biserrata grows wild in Florida and throughout the American tropics, but the 

 ordinary type is not nearly so attractive as this form, the source of which is not definitely known. 

 Grown in a hanging basket it makes a particularly fine conservatory plant. 



at which the experimental contest may 

 be held. 



TECHNIQUE OF THE EXPERIMENT 



In carrying out the experiment it is 

 necessary to observe considerable care 

 in growing the different varieties to 

 avoid possible mixing. This is due to 

 the fact that these plants reproduce 

 by means of long slender runners or 

 stolons (See Figure 6). The latter 

 vary in length and vigor of growth in 

 different varieties. In some types they 

 may penetrate the soil or run along 

 the surface five or six feet in various 

 directions, taking root occasionally and 

 producing scattered bud plants as 

 outgrowths from the runner. Even in 

 the less vigorous, smaller varieties, 

 these runners may penetrate the soil 

 for considerable distance in all direc- 

 tions, so that it is necessary in growing 

 a series of different kinds in proximity 



to each other to take particular pains 

 to avoid mixing. The suggestions out- 

 lined below cover methods aimed to 

 keep the different varieties distinct. 



(1) Separate the different kinds to 

 avoid mixing; runners will mix 

 six inches and more deep. 



(2) Plant unlike kinds together so 

 that mixing may be easier to 

 detect. 



(3) Lift runners and stock plants 

 very carefully, so that the con- 

 nections may be traced to the 

 mother plant. 



(4) Small varieties may be stocked 

 in large flats if other conditions 

 are kept uniform. 



(5) Plants should be kept labeled 

 and, in addition, a record of the 

 position in the bench should be 

 kept. 



(6) Determine productivity by a 

 careful count of all runners large 



