FERN GROWING 41 



" Affectionate respect causes tablets to be erected in 

 memory of the departed, but age obliterates such records. It 

 is, however, far different with the philosopher who has dis- 

 covered great truths : he has erected a monument to himself 

 ' more lasting than brass ! ' Time wears away the hardest 

 rock, but it will require the crumbling of this world 

 to obliterate the truths that have been taught by Charles 

 Darwin." 



At the Fern Show of the Royal Horticultural Society 

 in 1890, the only Silver Challenge Cup awarded was to the 

 author, and this had to be again contested for in 1891, on 

 which occasion it was again awarded to him. 



It was at this exhibition that the idea originated to hold 

 a Fern Show in 1892 on a different principle. Instead of 

 awarding a silver cup for the best collection, it was proposed 

 to offer a number of gold, silver, and bronze medals to a 

 certain number of varieties of each species. It was said that 

 no one could compete with so large a collection of specimens 

 as were in the author's collection. Major Cowburn stated 

 his opinion that if Ferns were shown in a number of classes, 

 the same collection of Ferns would again prove successful. 

 Major Cowburn agreed to assist in obtaining subscriptions 

 for this object, on condition that the author would act as 

 secretary ; and he, the author, and the late Mr. E. F. Fox 

 drew up a schedule of prizes that was submitted to Mr. 

 James Moly, Mr. Druery, Mr. Neill Fraser, Dr. Stansfield, 

 Mr. Phillips, Mr. Praeger, Messrs. Birkenhead, and finally 

 adopted. 



Major Cowburn also suggested that this was an occasion 

 when several eminent Pterologists, who were, alas ! now no 

 more, might, with great propriety, have their labours recog- 

 nised in some lasting manner ; and this was accomplished by 

 having several memorial prizes, and these prizes represented 



