BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 355 
The Development of the Prothallia of Ferns,’ 
BY DOUGLAS H. CAMPBELL. 
(WITH PLATE IX.) 
_ In the following paper an attempt has been made to present 
in brief form the results of a series of experiments upon the ger- 
mination of the spores, and the development of the prothallia of 
some of the common ferns. 
an there seems to be a prevalent idea that such study must nec- 
essarily be confined to the experienced and thoroughly trained 
biologist, whereas frequently many of the most important facts 
ly ‘ 
The plants under consideration offer perhaps the best illus- 
tration of the point in question. Complex as 1s the structure of 
me sexual organs and the growth of the fern itself from the fer- 
uot germ-cell is a much more difficult matter, but up to this 
Point no difficulty is experienced. 
ere is no part of the country where some ferns do not 
kept for fu- 
They ger- 
a healthy 
Condition and the successive steps in the development of the pro- 
wed 
Afte - first fern investigated by me was Onoclea aie nies 
thal oe attempts to procure a sufficient number :, a ee 
mi 4 trom green-houses, for study, and supposing that «g : 
fed Of the spores was a long and difficult process, I deter 
‘ess to make some experiments. A quantity of st get 
few pBrthered and sown without much hope of success, 
ays undoubted signs of germination were evident, and S00 
: 1885. 
Read before the ‘American Association for the Advancement of Science, August, 
