CROSS FERTILISATION OF FERNS. 



H7 



other plants raised from it by division of the crowns; or in other words the effects of the 

 one original process of fecundation may be seen through generations. 



Cross-Fertilisation. — For the better comprehension of this subject by the inexpe- 

 rienced, the illustrations 

 of Mr. F. W. Burbidge, 

 and his remarks, are re- 

 peated on page 11, Vol. 

 I., of this work, and are 

 worthy of attention. The 

 matter would not have 

 been dwelt on so fully, 

 and as plainly as possible 

 here, if it had not a very 

 practical bearing on the 

 raising of new varieties 

 of ferns. For this pur- 

 pose the information im- 

 parted is essential, and, 

 by acting in accordance 

 with it, several valuable 

 new ferns have been 

 raised from spores, as 

 the result of cross-ferti- 

 lisation. In all kinds of 

 flowering plants (phane- 

 rogams) this has to be 

 effected before the seeds 

 are formed, and therefore 

 long before they can be 

 sown ; but in the case of 

 , the spores have to be sown first, 



The figures are 

 elucidatory of the 

 interesting subject. 

 1. The pro thallium or first 

 growth from the spore. 2. The 

 first frond appearing and roots 

 extending. 3. Spore case burst- 

 ing and dispersing spores. 

 4. Spore germinating and cellu- 

 lar growth forming the prothallium (1) which bears 

 reproductive organs analogous to flowers. 5. An- 

 theridium, containing male spores and emerging 

 antherozoids. 6. Archegonium, or female organ. 

 7. Spore cases magnified, as taken from the plant 

 A at 7, the back of the frond, on which they form as 

 the result of fertilisation, as shown and explained. 



Fertilisation and Growth of Fern: 



fen 



non-flowering plants (cryptogams), such 

 fertilisation following on their vegetation. 



Procedure and Eesults. — Knowing the facts of the case, the raising of new ferns, 

 the result of cross-fertilisation, becomes a very simple matter, for it only amounts to the 



