230 



and comparatively recently gave rise to the " pellucidum i$ 

 section, a distinct break, which includes some lovely gems. 

 Another race of plumose divisi lobes of quite independent 

 origin is the Pearson strain raised by Mr. Pearson of 

 Chilwell from a multilobum form of his own finding. The 

 best of these in my judgment is more refined than laxum, 

 densum or robustum, and runs Baldwinii rather close in the 

 race for supremacy. A third batch of plumose divisilobes 

 emanated from Scotland, viz., the various Esplan forms and 

 Grimmondice. Mr. Esplan, so far as I can gather, never 

 divulged the history of his plants, but it is certain that he 

 put into circulation, under his name, two or three forms. 

 Some of these have nothing very distinctive about them 

 and are not distinguishable from many seedlings of the 

 Jones-Fox strain. The best of them, however, which I 

 call the true Esplan, is quite distinct from all others and is 

 probably the densest in character of all. It is entitled to 

 rank with Baldwinii and Pearsonii among the choicest gems 

 of the section. Unfortunately many pseudo-Esplans or, 

 at all events, inferior Esplans are in cultivation. The best 

 form is much rarer although it has been fairly widely dis- 

 tributed. Grimmondice, whose origin I do not know, is a fine 

 bold form, a little less dense than the Jones-Fox strain, but 

 a good grower and well worthy of a place in any collection. 

 The cultivation of those lovely ferns presents no difficul- 

 ties in the south-western counties, where a mild, moist 

 climate and a pure air can be relied upon. They only 

 require to be planted in good loam in the open air and to be 

 sheltered from violent winds and they will take care of them- 

 selves. In districts where the climate is less favourable, 

 however, the matter is not so simple. If grown under glass, 

 and especially if grown in pots, the difficulties are greatly 

 increased, but. even then they are not insuperable. The 



