120 



THE FERX BULLETIN 



be selected is some species of maiden-hair (Adiantum ) 

 which is about the least fitted of any to endure house 

 conditions. There are a few species of this genus that 

 might be expected to thrive in such a position but they 

 are not grown by the florist. His specimens are cer- 

 tain to be those that prefer or demand, shade and a 

 moist air. The sword fern (Nephirolepis) , which 

 dealers with an eye to business call the Boston fern, 

 makes a good house plant because it can endure con- 

 siderable drouth having become accustomed to such 

 things from generations of life upon the branches of 

 trees or fallen logs in the tropical forests. The holly 

 fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) of the florist is also able 

 to endure house conditions, its thick, glossy leaves be- 

 ing provided with an epidermis that prevents the rapid 

 loss of water. A fern not often seen in the house 

 though well adapted to life there, is the saw-fern 

 (Ptcris serrulata). It has long been known as a garden 

 plant and is now spread nearly around the world in the 

 tropics but is supposed to have come originally from 

 China. It is fond of growing on old walls and finds 

 the dry air of the modern house quite to its liking. It 

 will grow and put forth new fronds throughout the, 

 winter. Another fern, common in cultivation, which 

 cannot be named by the writer because he has never 

 seen a fruiting specimen, is apparently a species of 

 Asplenium, regarded as being of Japanese origin. It 

 appears to be quite hardy and able to endure any or- 

 dinary winter when left to itself out of doors, but in 

 the house it grows stroner ?nd ereen and is not affected 

 bv the lowered night temperatures that occasionally 

 prove the undoine of less merged plants. Nearly fif- 

 teen vears aeo. this fern was reported as naturalized in 

 the vicinitv of New York, having escaped from some 

 near-by greenhouse, but if its name is known the fact 



