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Hemitelia grandifolia and Alsophila aspera, the latter doing re- 
markably well. Another expedition sent out to Porto Rico was 
successful in securing several other species. The largest addition 
was made, as might be expected, from the island of Jamaica, that 
home of the ferns, where many species of tree ferns are to be 
found, as well as hundreds of others which do not attain the 
dignity of a tree, but which are, nevertheless, just as attractive 
in their way. Mr. Earle, of the Garden staff, was instrumental 
in securing this extensive addition upon his visit to that island 
last year. ver fifty specimens, with trunks ranging from a few 
inches to several feet high, were secured in this way. A large 
number of these are now well established, and many of them are 
at present gracing the collection at the conservatories. 
It may be interesting to note here that in collecting tree ferns 
and preparing them for shipment it is necessary to cut off all the 
large fronds, leaving only the immature ones at the top of the 
stem. The roots are also pretty well trimmed off, and the de- 
nuded trunks, looking more like material prepared for firewood 
than living plants, are then packgd in moist moss in boxes. 
Packed thus they arrive in excellent condition, and almost im- 
mediately, upon being planted, begin to send out their long fronds 
which rapidly and successively increase in length as the plants 
attain a firmer roothold. Were the fronds left on in shipping, 
the plants would not only be constantly weakened by the trans- 
piration of moisture, but the fronds would soon decay and this 
decaying matter would endanger the young undeveloped fronds 
which are so closely packed in what is called the bud at the 
apex of the stem. 
Probably to a great many people the idea of a fern being called 
a tree will at first seem odd, for all the many native forms of our 
own woods and swamps do not attain to this dignity. Even in 
Florida, where many other tropical ferns occur, no tree ferns are 
The tree ferns occur mainly in tropical regions, although 
some few are native in temperate climes. They reach their 
greatest development in South America, some of them growing 
there high up on the Andes. They are also numerous in the 
West Indies, and in Mexico and Central America as well but to 
