64 
sunlight. The assumption of sporophytic characters was usually 
gines id changes in the form and texture of the prothallus. 
The ess of these cultures has led to an examination of 
socihaliis e in the pits of the Royal Gardens. These pu 
attain a considerable size before bearing a young plant ; a num 
of prothalli in different pots were found to be icis a “itis 
prothallus not unfreque per bearing a large mber of buds. 
Aspidium Frondosum, Lowe, may be SIR. nienie, since 
in it the T des ale eons of buds was clearly due to the 
culture not having been watered, since normal embryos were 
produced when this was done. 
It is possible that these facts may be found to pen a a 
application in the cultivation of the rarer ferns. For, the 
just mentioned showed, a single large prothallus may f produco a a 
number of buds, while it is exception nal for more than one normal 
embryo to be formed on a prothallus. Father by elftulniting 
the sexual process varieties may possibly be found to be trans- 
mitted more truly, although on this latter point the facts do not 
at present justify a definite conclusion. 
North Wing of Temperate House.—The contract for the erection of 
this building, which will ee a the whole structure in accord- 
ance with the original design of Decimus Burton in 1860, was 
entrusted by the Fir li Onateciiskén ok of ins Majesty's Works and 
It is hoped that it may be completed during the present year. It 
is proposed to devote it to Himalayan and cool temperate New 
Zealand plants. 
