3§ 



themselves to spore sowing from the best types, always 

 with the motto " Excelsior " and with the object of im- 

 provement and consequent addition to the British Ferns 

 of the future. 



Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 



N.B. — The Editor would here point out the inadvisa- 

 bility of giving distinctive names to any seedlings unless 

 of obviously improved character, since a successful batch 

 of youngsters may all inherit the parental character in 

 varied degree so that the great majority can only be 

 named as " So-and-so seedlings." Furthermore, it is 

 unwise to name any until they are adult, well-established 

 plants, since Polystichums in particular only then show 

 their full character. Distinctly inferior ones should be 

 thrown away, and only distinct improvements given 

 indicative names as new. 



BRITISH FERNS ABROAD. 



Once a Britisher has acquired a keen interest in the 

 ferns of his native country, he finds himself instinctively 

 on the look-out for them wherever he goes. He is doubt- 

 less interested in all ferns, but he is more excited over one 

 familiar fern than over many that he cannot identify. 



I have just returned from a six months' stay in Serbia, 

 during which time I had some opportunity of observing 

 the ferns of that interesting country. A recent article in 

 the " British Fern Gazette," on " British Ferns Abroad," 

 suggested to me that a note on the Ferns of Serbia might 

 be of interest. I should not dare to write on this subject 

 were it not for the fact that practically everything I found 

 was undoubtedly " British," and hence of interest to folk 

 in this country. 



But, in the first place, I must say that my fern hunts 



