HYBRIDS, OR GARDEN VARIETIES 9 



fresh, healthy young plants when divisions are to be 

 made. Where it is only from the older plants that new 

 stock can be made, the short healthy tips of the 

 rhizomes should be taken. Where old plants are simply 

 cut up and repotted, they almost invariably fail to make 

 good plants if they do not die outright. 



Hybrids, or Garden Varieties of Ferns 



It is extremely difficult to account for vagaries of 

 Ferns. It has been stated that distinct forms have been 

 obtained by cross fertilisation, yet, it would be difficult 

 to prove how variations do really occur. Of the many 

 varieties that have come under notice, it seems to have 

 been more by chance than design. It was stated when 

 we had Adiantum Victoria that it was a cross between 

 A. Farkyense and A. scutum. Yet as the former has 

 never been known to produce spores, it would seem 

 difficult to support the theory. 



Again, with Lomaria platyptera, this is stated to be a 

 hybrid between L. gibba and Blechnum Braziliense. Yet 

 it has been found among seedlings of L. gibba, where 

 no plants or spores of the Blechnum could have come in 

 contact with the gibba. 



The only instance of a variety of forms coming from 

 mixed spores which has come directly under the notice 

 of the writer was from an accidental mixing of Adiantums 

 amulum and fragrantissima. Whether it was from cross 

 fertilisation or accidental variation it would be difficult 

 to tell, yet a great variety or distinct forms were raised, 

 some of which were very pretty, and several gained 

 awards from the Royal Horticultural Society. Subse- 

 quent experiments with Adiantums and various other 

 genera did not meet with success. Many instances 

 could be given where very distinct varieties have occurred 

 among batches of Ferns raised from spores in the ordi- 



