FERN GROWING 27 



"Spores from a normal frond produced only normal Ferns. 

 " Equal proportions of spores from a normal and from an 



abnormal frond produced ninety per cent, of abnormal 



forms. 

 " Spores sown in separate pans from abnormal fronds 



produced plants like the variety from which they were 



gathered. 

 " Spores from a dozen varieties mixed together produced 



many new varieties, and the more remarkable the 



varieties selected, the more extraordinary were the 



results. 

 " Further experiments on hybrid Ferns and crossed varie- 

 ties were reported to the British Association in 1865, 1867, 

 1870, and 1888, but the late Professor Hutton Balfour was the 

 only botanist who would allow that a cross had been obtained 

 up to the year 1885 ; indeed it was difficult even to convince 

 such experienced Fern authorities as the late Thomas Moore 

 and Abraham Clapham, although the latter in 1879 acknow- 

 ledged he was satisfied, and, what was more to the point, 

 commenced experiments and raised some beautiful forms of 

 Polypodium vulgare. A large number of fine varieties have been 

 raised by crossing, and for these we are especially indebted 

 to the late Colonel Jones, Mr. Mapplebeck, Mr. Barnes, Mr. 

 Clapham, Messrs. Stansfield, and Mr. E. F. Fox, for many of 

 these plants, and also for numerous wild finds ; for the latter 

 we must also acknowledge the successful labours of Messrs. 

 Padley, Elworthy, Hodgson, Moly, Lyall, James, Wollaston, 

 Phillips, Mapplebeck, Airey, Whitwell, Forster, O' Kelly, 

 Eraser, Praeger, Cooper, Druery, Patey, Wilson, Bolton, 

 Cowburn, and others. Far more varieties are raised from 

 spores than are found wild ; but we get new blood, new forms, 

 and consequently increased vigour from the latter, that adds to 

 the importance of wild finds. 



" Some Ferns have young plants growing on their fronds, 



