1/ 



with the help of a pair of nail scissors and was found to 

 have been connected by a slender stolon with the parent 

 plant, the offset having practically no roots of its own and 

 its crown consisting of two rather loosely rolled fronds 

 only. On reaching home three days later the little plant 

 was potted in fibrous, springy soil, and placed in a cold 

 house in the shade, the idea being to keep it at rest until 

 the proper time for growth in the spring. Judge, then, 

 of my surprise and dismay when, after a week or so, the 

 two fronds which formed the crown began to unroll ! As 

 the plant had nothing else upon which to fall back it was 

 necessary to preserve these fronds, so it was plunged in a 

 pan of cocoa-nut refuse, covered with a bell glass and 

 watered sparingly. The two fronds continued to develop 

 very slowly until about Christmas, when they came to a 

 stop although still not completely unfolded. During the 

 next three months the plant was given as full light as 

 possible, was carefully protected against frost, but was not 

 subjected to any artificial heat. The bell-glass was 

 removed every morning and replaced at night. Whenever 

 there was any sign of sharp frost the whole concern was 

 moved into the dwelling-house for the night and taken back 

 in the morning. Things remained in statu quo until the end 

 of March, when the two fronds became fully expanded. 

 At the present time (June 30th) they are still living and 

 green, though somewhat the worse for wear. Three or 

 four larger new fronds have developed and the plant may 

 be considered quite safe. 



Its up-bringing recalls the way in which prematurely 

 born babies are nursed into life in incubators in Paris. 



F. W. Stansfield, M.D. 



