294 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
smallest may be allied with the largest if specific or generic differ- 
ences be not too great. Consequently, though ovr British Spleenworts 
are all of comparatively small growth, their varietal forms may 
presumably be imparted to many of the grand large-growing exotics, and 
the task is the better worth attempting, as the genus is peculiarly ‘exempt 
from the tendency to form tasselled or crested varieties, though examples 
of such occur among our native species, and thus afford fair starting- 
points for hybridising purposes. Scolopendriuwm vulgare, curiously enough, 
though*extremely closely allied to the Asplenia, and capable, as we have 
seen, of a definite alliance with them, is, on the other hand, one of the 
most variable Ferns in the world, and hence, taking the varieties of this 
species and the tasselled forms of Aspleniwm trichomanes and A. adiantum 
nigrum, I would suggest systematic admixtures of the spores of these 
with a number of the plain-fronded exotic Asplenia, and particularly with 
A. nidus avis. This last has recently given us one curious wild semi- 
cristate sport, A. n. a. multilobatwm, indicating great capacity for 
variation ; and considering its extremely close agreement in structure with 
Scol. vulgare and the alliance above cited of this latter with Asp. ceterach, 
I feel confident that with perseverance we might not only obtain hand- 
somely tasselled Bird’s-nest Ferns, but also, in conjunction with some of 
the fertile forms of S. v. crispum, frilled ones as well. That beautiful 
Hartstongue, for instance, S. v. laceratum, with broad sagittate, tasselled 
basal lobes, deeply cut pinnatifid fronds, tasselled heavily at their ter- 
minals, would be a splendid mate, and the hybridist who mated the twain 
would certainly not repent the trouble taken. This field isa very wide one, 
but care would have to be taken to avoid all but thoroughbred sym- 
metrical forms, since faults are almost certain to be transmitted and 
the progeny marred. 
Asplenium trichomanes has, so far as I know, never yet been crossed 
or hybridised. A. ¢t. conflwens, Stabler, an asserted hybrid with 4. 
marinum, does not bear the test of investigation, as A. marinuwm did 
not grow near the locality of origin; and although its spores are always 
imperfect, this is not enough to establish hybridity by itself. A. 
trichomanes cristatum, however, would be well worth sowing with other 
Asplenia, many of which are obviously very closely allied indeed. Our 
Blechnum spicant has given us some charming forms, crested, dissected, 
and otherwise varied. 2B. s. cristatum, B. s. ramosum, Kinahan, B. s. 
trinervio-coronans, Barnes, B. s. concinnum, Druery (strings of emerald 
scallop shells), B. s. plumosum, Airey, and others, one and all might find 
fit mates among exotic Blechnums and Lomarias, to many of which new 
charms would certainly be imparted, the twofold character of the fertile 
and barren fronds emphasising greatly the varietal features. Our Lastreas 
or Nephrodiums, and the exotic ones afford another field for combination 
as well as our marvellous Polystichums, of which the best plumose 
divisilobes are often sufficiently fertile to afford material. P. setoswm 
especially should be tried with some of the best. Could thorough 
alliances be effected between this lovely lucent hard-fronded evergreen 
Shield Fern, and such gems as P. a. cristatwm (Wollaston No. 10), P. a. 
cristato-gracile, Moly., and some of the divisilobe plumosums of Jones and 
lox, Pearson and Esplan, the results could only be gems of first water. 
