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into types very different from the common ones. No man 

 knows how or why it happens, but here and there among 

 the normal species, there is occasionally found a " sport, " 

 that is, a Fern of the same species as its neighbours and 

 undoubted parents, but shaped and fashioned in quite 

 different lines. Such a plant moreover, when removed and 

 cultivated, not only retains its new form unaltered, but 

 when propagated by its spores, its progeny will be fairly 

 true to the new type, or better still, may vary still more 

 on like lines, so that greatly improved types are eventually 

 obtained . Thus a fern with once divided fronds may sport into 

 one with twice divided fronds of much more feathery nature, 

 and this may go on until in a few generations, or even it 

 may be in one, we arrive at fronds so dense and so moss- 

 like in appearance, that only an expert could determine its 

 species. Obviously with Ferns capable of spontaneous 

 improvement to this extent, it is absurd to devote all- 

 available space to what the connoisseur regards as the 

 weed forms, the mere raw material out of which Dame 

 Nature generously fashions the improved and highly 

 decorative varieties we have in view. Nearly every one of 

 the British species has yielded " sports " of this descrip- 

 tion. According to the most recent descriptive catalogue, 

 the Hartstongue boasts no less than 450 varieties, the 

 Shield Ferns 384, the Lady Fern 313, the Buckler Ferns 

 (6 species) 259, and the Common Polypody 75. A large 

 number of these consists of beautifully tasselled forms, 

 others are delicately dissected and feathery, others are 

 prettily dwarfed and congested, and others are varied on 

 quaint and eccentric lines. There are, therefore, forms 

 adapted to meet all tastes, all are hardy save these species 

 already mentioned, and in short, given sheltered conditions 

 from hot sun and destructive wind, there is no family of 

 truly British plants which remotely approaches that of the 

 Ferns in varietal interest and amenability to culture. 



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



