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Finally, the finest cut fronds, under congenial conditions 

 of culture, finish their growth by forming long linear 

 extensions to the ultimate segments, and a profusion of 

 bulbils on the sites of the spore heaps. We have here 

 consequently not merely one distinct varietal feature, but 

 several in conjunction, and it is this fact, among others, 

 which stamps the cross in question as an undoubted one, 

 while the appearance of a single varietal character might 

 be imputed to an independent variation or sport, despite 

 the use of a parent which possessed it. In P. Schneideri X r 

 as we have seen, one parent, P. aureum, is of a normal 

 specific type, somewhat resembling the normal P. vulgare 

 in the fact that despite its far greater size, it is simply 

 pinnate. The introduction of the blood of P. v. elegantissi- 

 mum evidences itself in the cross by imparting to the huge 

 size of P. aureum precisely the same finely-cut character 

 of the intermediate fronds (the finest type had so far not 

 appeared) conjoined with the same, in this case, dimorphic 

 feature of an intermixture of very slightly modified normal 

 fronds of P. aureum, plus the piecemeal appearance of 

 the two characters in one and the same frond. In addition 

 to this incontestable proof of the alliance, we have a 

 constitutional factor introduced in the shape of a capacity 

 to stand several degrees of frost, a plant in the writer's 

 collection having survived several winters in a quite cold 

 house, where it has been repeatedly slightly frozen. As 

 further evidence of alliance between very distinct species, 

 the spores are imperfect, and though seemingly freely 

 produced, appear under the microscope as mere dust. The 

 possibility therefore of P. Schneideri X being a mere sport 

 on parallel lines to P. elegantissimum, instead of a cross, 

 may, it will be seen, be dismissed as untenable, and we 

 are fully justified therefore in accepting it as a fair starting- 

 point for further experiments on similar lines. Mr. 

 Schneider indeed was not content with this success, but 



