— 3< 



as rather complimentary to the magazine, since it indi- 

 cates that they are confident that we will not only con- 

 tinue to exist for some years more, but continue to pub- 

 lish what is interesting to fern lovers. Upon these two 

 points we are confident that they have made no mistake. 

 But there is also a business side to the question. By pay- 

 ing for more than one year, you are saved the trouble of 

 the annual remittance. If there are any others who care 

 to pay some distance in advance, we offer the magazine 

 for two years for $1.25, and for three years for $1.75. 

 These prices are strictly in advance. 



* * 



It is commonly asserted that the Hart'stongue (Scolo- 

 pendrium) occasionally roots at the tips. Mr. Chas. T. 

 Druery, however, writes that he has never seen fronds of 

 this kind in Great Britain, although the fern is abundant 

 there, and he is always on the watch for aberrant forms. 

 If any reader can refer us to any published account of 

 this fern rooting at the tips of the fronds, we shall be 

 greatlv obliged. We feel sure that such an account has 

 appeared, but fail to locate it at this writing. 



NOTES. 



Dr. K. Rosenstock, Gotha, Germany, has given notice 

 that he will soon issue centuries of exotic ferns, begin- 

 ning with the ferns of Southern Brazil. The first cen- 

 tury will appear in 1905, and will be sold for $10.00. 



In the Botanical Gazette for December. E. B. Copeland 

 discusses at some length " The Variations of Some Cali- 

 fornia Plants," in which figures of two variant ferns are 

 given. The author does not agree with the mutation 

 theory of the origin of species, and ends by saying: 

 " ' Mutations,' or discontinuous variations, and the most 

 insignificant of individual variations are parts of one 

 unbroken series." 



Mr. R. M. Harper writes regarding the fall fruiting 

 of Osmunda that in August, 1896 he collected fruiting 

 specimens in Sumter County, Ga. The place where 

 they grew had recently been burned over. He suggests 



