THE FERN BULLETIN 



Botrychium obliquum was in fruit Sept. first, 1908 

 but tbe plant was not so robust as in the preceeding 

 years, owing to the drought. 



Botrychium obliquum dissectum in fruit Aug. 28. 

 1908 in fine condition, being in the shade. A plant of 

 Botrychium that we have been watching to note the 

 changes in the cutting of the fronds, did not come up 

 this season (1908). 



Standish, Maine. 



[All of which indicates that it is not safe to prophesy 

 unless you are dead sure! We are certain, however, 

 that there is a reason for the failure to produce fruit 

 and we hope continued observations of these plants 

 will bring it out. Many plants can be made to fruit 

 by with-holding water or by pruning the roots. Can it 

 be that the dry season forced these species .into fruit- 

 ing when they would normally be sterile? Another 

 angle of the subject develops when it is known that the 

 young fronds of Botrychium are usually formed sev- 

 eral seasons in advance. How late in their develop- 

 ment they may be influenced by a good or bad season 

 is a question. Any of these speculations may fall in 

 the face of the facts and we hope the specimens may be 

 kept under observation long enough to determine just 

 why the plants are or are not fertile in certain years. 

 —Ed.] 



Nephrolepis Scitolzeli. — This is the name of a 

 new form of Nephrolepis exalt at a and should properly 

 be called N. exaltata f. Schohcli though it originated 

 from another named form, viz : A r . exaltata Scottii. Its 

 fronds are shorter than the ordinary Boston fern and 

 nearly erect with the pinnae much divided otherwise 

 it is manifestly a close relative of the other sports of 

 that species. 



