235 



a forking of the tips of the pinnae while others are poly- 

 dactylous, multi fid, crested or capitate. Perhaps the best 

 is A. F-f.kalothrix cmto£zm,H.Stansfield, in which the two 

 characters are pretty evenly balanced, and which seems 

 to be also fairly vigorous in constitution, contrasting mar- 

 kedly in this respect with Mr. Druery's crested form of 

 kalothrix which is very feeble and difficult to keep alive. 

 Mr. Stansfield's experiment with Trickomanes radicans is 

 very instructive and corresponds with our own experience 

 in the induction of bulbil-bearing and apospory in A. F-f. 

 unco-.glomeratum twenty years ago, as related to the Lin- 

 nean Society and reproduced in another column of this 

 issue of the Gazette. The lesson conveyed is that vege- 

 table protoplasm if it can be kept alive, always tends to 

 find a mode of growth. The same idea is manifested in 

 the propagation of ferns from frond bases and of Begonias 

 and Gesneriaceous plants from severed leaves. 



Editor. 



BRITISH FERNS. 



Mr. Druery always maintained that there was a big 

 future for British ferns. I am inclined to think he was 

 right and that his prediction was founded on more reason- 

 able grounds than his wonderful enthusiasm and energy. 



This dreadful Avar has for the present interfered with 

 the cultivation and spread of our favourite plants, though 

 many of us can testify to the comfort our little friends 

 have afforded us. They will come into their own by and by. 



We have now on our side a splendid ally, the intelligent 

 head gardener, and there are many such. Just now he is 

 too busy, for in these days of restricted rations it is a case 

 of all hands to the vegetables. The head gardener's sym- 

 pathy and skill are with us, and in the days to come these 



