(H) 



other specimens of tropical ferns as are too large for the 

 benches in house No. 10. Many specimens of tree-ferns, 

 from various parts of the world, are here brought together. 

 These graceful plants usually inhabit the mountains of the 

 tropics, commonly at an elevation of 1500 feet or more. 

 Many of the plants here have been secured by Garden expe- 

 ditions to different parts of the American tropics. Another 

 feature of interest is the group of staghorn-ferns, occupy- 

 ing one corner of the house ; the application of the com- 

 mon name staghorn is quite evident in several of the species. 

 Suspended from the roof in baskets are many desirable ferns. 

 A fern from China and Tartary, known as the Scythian 

 Lamb {Cibotium Barometz), will be found in the center 

 of this house near the walk ; it is of interest as forming the 

 basis of a marvellous tale, current in early times, to the 

 effect that on a vast plain to the eastward of the Volga oc- 

 curred a wonderful plant, looking like a lamb; this animal, 

 so the story ran, was supported upon a stalk and as soon as it 

 fiP had exhausted the vegetation at hand died from starvation. 

 *<"' House No. *£. The plants in this house, as well as 

 those in house No. 14, are arranged in botanical sequence, 

 with a view to furnishing a collection for the comparative 

 study of plant families and genera ; to make this as com- 

 plete as possible, as many representatives of families and 

 genera are brought together as space and cultural condi- 

 tions permit. Cultural requirements necessitate placing the 

 ferns and their allies somewhat out of their sequence position, 

 at the south end of the west side bench. The east side bench 

 is devoted to the pine family, the yew family, and to the en- 

 dogenous plants, the last named terminating with the orchids, 

 next the tree-fern house. The sequence of exogenous plants 

 begins on the west side bench, as one enters from house No. 

 13, crosses to the central bench at the ferns, and continues 

 around that, ending in this house with the loasa family, near 

 the fern house. The sequence is then continued in house 

 No. 14, beginning with the mezereon family on the north 

 side bench, at the entrance from house No. 13, continuing 



