364 FERNS. 



active growth of these, respectively upward and down- 

 ward, produces an ever-increasing expansion of the 

 surrounding tissue of the protJiallium, till the latter is 

 at length ruptured, and the young frond protrudes, 

 curves upward, and appears between the two flaps of 

 the protlmllium. Before this it has formed the lamina, 

 which is always much less divided than the mature 

 frond. The root also protrudes downward, and pene- 

 trates the ground. Such are the marvellous processes 

 which attend the earliest life of these charming plants. 

 The record reads like a fairy tale ; and, but for the 

 numerous witnesses witnesses of the highest scientific 

 acumen, and the most unimpeachable veracity who 

 confirm the testimony, it would be dismissed as a myth. 

 The facts, however, are beyond dispute ; and, indeed, 

 may without much difficulty be verified by any one 

 accustomed to the more delicate microscopic investi- 

 gations. The following details by Dr Hofmeister will 

 teach the student what to look for, and how : 



"When a quantity of fern-spores are sown, the 

 germinating protliallia are developed at very different 

 periods. The earliest protliallia produce in the first 

 instance only antlieridia^ afterwards antlieridia and 

 arcliegonia together, and when advanced in age, only 

 archegonia. The earliest protliallia have already 

 attained the latter stage at the tune when the later 

 prothallia, the development of which has been retarded 

 by the shade afforded by the earlier ones, are thickly 

 covered with antlieridia. If the plants are now kept 

 for some days rather dry, and then saturated with 



