124 FERN GROWING 



The author has mentioned that some of the quarter 

 divisions of one prothallus were purposely allowed to grow, 

 without putting other divisions to them, in order to ascertain 

 how long they could live in the prothalloid state. All were 

 alive in February 1892 (four years after they had been 

 divided). These four divisions had been planted in a half- 

 pint flower-pot, at the distance of an inch apart, and were 

 kept damp by the use of a bell-glass. They have also been 

 repotted every year. In February 1892 they were unhealthy, 

 and the author determined as they were being repotted to 

 place two of them as closely together as possible, in order to 

 ascertain whether there was any sexual life remaining, and 

 in July three distinct frondlets appeared, which are now 

 strong plants. The two remaining divisions were again re- 

 potted in February, and they are now stronger than they 

 were last year. On October 7, 1892, they had been divided 

 four and three-quarter years, and as they had gerininated 

 nearly six months before being divided they had then lived 

 more than six years in the prothalloid state. 



This experiment proves that the male and female organs 

 are widely separated from each other, and that either male or 

 female organs were on every quarter of the prothallus, but 

 never both on the same. None of these quarters, therefore, 

 were or could be impregnated until a second had been planted 

 in close proximity ; and when two quarters, both having only 

 one sex, were placed together, they still remained in the same 

 prothalloid condition, and this could only be ascertained from 

 the circumstance that when other quarters were moved close 

 to them, then these sent up frondlets, and in one instance 

 four plants resulted. It also shows that unless impregnated 

 they can live at all events for seven and a half years, and 

 even then are able to be impregnated and to put on their 

 frond life. It is also another proof that more than one cell 

 can be impregnated. 



