130 



FERN GROWING 



By constant attention to young Ferns in the first stages 

 of their frondlet and ft-ond life, the author became aware in 

 1887 that when the fronds were under a bell-glass the cooling 

 process at night caused a tiny glittering star to appear at 

 the tips of all the veinlets* (Fig. 57); a close examination 

 showed this to be perspiration through the pores of the 

 veinlets. Gradually the drop became larger, till it slipped 

 on the frond and joined another drop until it finally de- 

 scended to the base of the frond. Now these same glittering 



Fig- 57- 



Fig. S9.— Fern Prothallus showing (except in rare cases) the positions 

 of the Antheridia (A) and the Archegonia (B). The sexes will be 

 on different divisions if the prothallus is cut along the dotted line. 



Stars were also seen in abundance on the prothalli (Fig. 58), 

 and the fact appeared to be one deserving record. The 

 author sent a report to Professor Bower for insertion in 

 the " Annals of Botany," but before it could be printed it 

 had been announced as a new German discovery. Now this 

 is one means of transporting sperms from one prothallus 

 to another, as drops were seen that bridged over two pro- 



* This had a strong resemblance to the star-hke glittering of the luminous moss 

 [Schistostega pinnatd), a minute moss found in the Nottingham sandstone caves, and 

 in much greater abundance on coal shale near Todmorden. 



