THE APPEARANCE OF NEW VARIETIES 
At the right (b) is Nephrolepis magnifica, a dwarf asexual descendant of the original Boston 
fern. a is a sport from this dwarf, and differs widely from its parent, particularly 
in showing greater vigor. 
many cases the natural habit of growth 
of the variety is responsible for these 
defects. A variety with a rank growth 
of fronds is most likely to produce an 
unbalanced plant. Dense and bushy 
plants are least liable to lack symmetry. 
Multi-pinnate, that is, finely divided 
ferns, such as Smithii, and Goodii, unless 
they be large specimens, grow unsym- 
metrically. In these and similar varie- 
ties the defect is due to the weakness 
of the rachis of the leaves. The rachis 
can hold the frond upright so long as 
the latter is small; but when the fronds 
develop to full size they become heavy 
and hang down, spoiling the symmetry 
of the plant. A tri- or multi-pinnate 
fern with a heavier rachis that can 
support the weight of the developed 
It has one undesirable characteristic—namely, that its roots 
sport, and therefore it cannot be depended on to breed true. 
frond sporting back to the mother (b) type. 
from the original Boston, but with the drawback that it is inconstant. 
sion of this form d, a constant variety of value might be obtained. 
At c is shown a little 
d is another root sport, not very different 
By further divi- 
(Fig. 24.) 
frond will create a ready market. A 
sport of Smithi recently introduced 
under the name of N. verona seems to 
possess this desirable character and its 
outlook is promising. 
Sort or masses of spores on the under- 
side of the leaves are objectionable, 
because they form undesirable brown 
spots of considerable size; and further- 
more when these ripen, the spores fall 
on the surface of the leaves below giving 
them a rusty appearance. Ferns with 
finely divided leaves, and young plants 
plants with undivided leaves, are free 
from spores, but the latter in most 
cases begin to produce spores when they 
get old. 
On account of lack of air circulation 
at the base of the plant, in some forms 
233 
