FERTILISATION AND PROPAGATION. 



135 



they are generally found, upon close inspection, to be abortive. This absence of 

 spores sufficiently explains the rarity of these lovely Ferns in our collections, as 

 well as the comparatively high figures at which they are quoted in Fern 

 catalogues. Their propagation is necessarily a very slow process, particularly 

 that of the plumose form of Aspidium (Polystiehum) aculeatum ; this can 

 only be increased by means of side growths, which are but sparingly produced 

 at the base of the protracted trunk, and only after the plant has already 

 attained a certain age. The barren forms of Polypodium and of Scolopendrium 

 are more plentiful in collections, for this reason — that while, in the cases just 

 described, one must patiently wait for the production of the offsets or of 

 side buds, these species and their varieties may be— and, indeed, frequently 

 are — propagated either by the sectioning of the underground stems, as 

 previously explained, or by the division of the crowns, which are produced 

 in greater abundance. 



Among exotic Ferns, we find the same barren character affecting to a 

 similar degree the plumose forms of different species. A popular illustration 

 of this character is undoubtedly the beautiful Adiantum tenerum Farley ense, 

 or, as it is commonly called, A. Farley ense, which according to some authors 

 should be a plumose or much-enlarged form of A. tenerum, and according 

 to others one of A. Ghiesbreghti (scutum). This latter theory, however, can 

 hardly be maintained, as A. Ghiesbreghti is known to be itself a variety of 

 A. tenerum, having originated some years since in Mr. Williams' nursery, 

 whereas A. tenerum Farley ense is certainly not of British garden origin. 

 Whatever its pedigree may be, this really beautiful Fern, which is sometimes, 

 and very appropriately, called " The Queen of the Maidenhairs," was first 

 discovered on Farley Hills, in Barbados, by the late Mr. T. C. Daniel, of 

 Stoodleigh, near Tiverton, who sent the original plant to England, and from 

 this one plant all those afterwards propagated were produced by the division 

 of the crowns ; none appear to have ever been raised from spores, which from 

 time to time we have heard of as existing in various places, but have never 

 seen. As it has just been stated, A. tenerum Farley ense is exclusively 

 increased by division, and it is found more profitable to repeatedly divide 

 small plants than to cut up large specimens, divisions of which take a much 

 longer time to form shapely plants. As is the case with most stove Ferns 

 of evergreen nature, this may be safely divided at all times of the year, 



