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in contact with the stigmatic surface of the pistil. The 

 new light that these recent investigations have thrown on 

 the fossil fern-like plants, shows that only about twenty 

 per cent, of the plants known as fossil ferns really are 

 such. The rest are seed-bearing plants, related to the 

 cycads. and forming a group intermediate between them 

 and the ferns, to which the name of Pteridosperms has 

 been given. — Wttlard N. Clute. 



Ferns and Lime. — It is often assumed that all ferns 

 love limestone and that certain species will not thrive 

 unless in a soil of this nature. This was once said of the 

 walking fern and it is still the custom to mix limestone, 

 old plaster, etc., with the soil in that part of the fern 

 garden where these ferns are to be placed. But since 

 this idea became current the walking fern has been found 

 on a large number of rocks that contain no trace of lime, 

 and at present not a few believe that the reason for the 

 occurrence of some ferns on limestone is the same as 

 the reason for certain plants growing in alkaline soils or 

 in deserts, namely, that they cannot hold their own 

 against the tenants of other soils. Not only is it true 

 that many ferns are not lovers of lime, but there are some 

 species that cannot endure it. Lomaria Spicant and 

 Crypto gramma crispa are reported as unable to survive 

 if watered with water containing much lime. 



Ferxs axd Drouth. — It is well known to botanists that 

 drouth is very effectual in causing plants to flower and 

 fruit, and the same thing seems applicable to the fern- 

 worts. The behavior of the various species of Marsilia 

 are quite in accordance with the rule. When growing in 

 plenty of water they rarely fruit at all. Fruiting speci- 

 mens must be looked for among the dilapidated speci- 

 mens in drier ground. The same is true of Pihdaria and 

 the species of Isoetes. Some of the so-called " terrestrial " 

 species of the latter fruit at the beginning of the dry 

 season, and then drop their leaves, but if supplied with 

 water throughout the year do not drop their leaves and 



