Christmas Fern 89 



own observations, it appears that they are likely to be induced by 

 anything acting as a strong stimulus to the plant, such as sunlight, 

 or an unusual supply of food brought within the plant's reach by 

 heavy rains. Mr. Eaton reports finding them late in the season 

 in the second growth of vigorous plants, although fruiting lightly 

 in such cases. They are often to be seen in plants exposed to 

 the sun from the cutting down of surrounding woods. Mr. 

 Eaton states that they are seldom found in plants growing in 

 shade, and that they disappear in localities when surrounding 

 trees that have been cut down are replaced by others. In short, 

 we have here, apparently, the remarkable case of a plant often 

 stimulated to a height of leaf-development far beyond the usual 

 one, and lapsing to its usual state when the stimulus is with- 

 drawn. 



