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SOME MODERN VARIETIES OF THE BOSTON FER 
AT THEIR SOURCE ; 
Witn Pirates CLXI anp CLXII 
The most popular house plant in the United States for a 
the year around is the Boston fern or some one of its varietie 
There are probably half a dozen commercial growers in the Ea: 
who produce over 100,000 plants of some of these varieties ever 
year, and a larger — who produce 50,000 or more. 
The original Boston fern arose as a sport of the commo 
tropical species, aes exaliata, and appears to have cor 
into being in the greenhouses of Craig of Philadelphia, It we 
called davallioides, and sold over 50,000 plants under this nam 
before his attention was called to his mistake by G. W. Olive 
of Washington. Then in 1896, it was given the name of Nephn 
of the various forms developed at Tarrytown, as an unde 
standing of these will serve to give a general idea of the. types: 
variation of these forms in general.. An investigation of a 
the forms is under way and the results will be published later. 
whom I have met in connection with a general study of the 
varieties. 
Nephrolepis exaliaia and its first sport, bestoniensis, were bo 
