THE FERN BULLETIN 



19 



counts for the reception given his paper. Those who 

 advance the hybridization theory to account for every 

 variation in ferns admit that they have no proof of 

 such a condition, but at the same time are inclined to 

 ridicule careful experimental work because it is not 

 in line with their conclusions. 



Nephrolepis Dreyerii. — It would be a curious set 

 of circumstances that obliged a fern publication to go 

 to press without recording the description of some new 

 "species" of Nephrolepis. The latest addition to the 

 list is that which stands at the head of this paragraph. 

 The describer says it is a sport from N. Bostoniensis 

 but there is no such species. The correct name is N. 

 exaltata and the so-called Boston fern often called N. 

 exaltata Bostoniensis is a sport from this species. N. 

 Dryerii which, if it needs a name at all, should be 

 called N. exaltata Dreyerii, is described as of compact 

 growth and similar in appearance to the form named 

 Scot Hi. 



Nephrolepis Marshalli. — Elsewhere in this is- 

 sue we have recorded an additional named sport from 

 Nephrolepis exaltata but now that the nurserymen 

 have this species going no one can say where the list 

 will end. Some day it may become necessary to take 

 cognizance of this entire group of variants and we 

 therefore add still another member, N. exaltata Mar- 

 shalli which has sprung from N. e. Amerpholi in Eng- 

 land. There must now be nearly a score of named 

 forms of this one fern but this is not to be taken as an 

 extreme case of variability in a single species. It is 

 quite likely that any other fern as carefully grown 

 would yield similar returns. Here is work for any 

 species-maker who cares to undertake it. 



