THE CROSSING OF FERNS. 



351 



aquilina, a cross between P. aq. cristata of Glover and the 

 flexuous form (glomorata of Jacob Jones). Mr. Mapplobeclc 

 was so much struck with this plant that ho determined to 

 tiy the same experiment, using sj^res from his own garden. 

 Ho raised at least three plants of the same cross — one much 

 more marked than my own. 



Mr. Stansfield's first experiment was with the cruciate 

 form of Athyrium, Pritchardii. Thinking that a crest at 

 the end of the frond would be an improvement to it, he per- 

 severingly sowed crested forms with it until he succeeded 

 in his wish ; ho tried the same experiment with the con- 

 gested form, Grantias, with similar success. The cresting 

 of ferns is, of course, no absolute proof of a cross, as it is 

 known to result in many cases from natural development ; 

 but the following case speaks for itself: — Mr. Stansfield 

 sowed his own splendid plumose form of Athyrium with 

 Craigii, and he produced an unmistakable plumose Craigii. 

 It was barren, and i)n,])ery to an extreme ; and, as if to 

 settle for ever all doubts as to its origin, it produced last 

 year a frond of the typical plumosum, simply crested, without 

 a taint of Craigii except the cresting. Mr. Stansfield also 

 raised a remarkable cross between A. P.-f. congostum and 

 Craigii. 



It is difficult to say wliethor Mr. Lowe's crossings of 

 Scolopendrium or Athyrium were most marked. In the 

 former, almost every conceivable combination of undulatum, 

 mnltifidum, marginatum, and muricatum are to bo seen in 

 his garden ; and it is the same with Athyrium. It was 

 Mr. Lowe's extraordinary series of combinations between 

 Victoria) and proteum, etc., which roused Mr. Clapham to 

 exertion. 



Mr. Clapham confined his experiments to Polypodium 

 vulgare, his most marked success being with the finely-cut 



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