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THE FERN BULLETIN 



A Correction. — In my article in the April Bulletin,. 

 page 36, line 15 for N. CUntonianum X spinulosum 

 read N. cristatum X marginale the typographical error 

 arises from copying the fifth line below. — E. J. Wins- 

 low. 



Fossil Ferns. — Rev. James A. Bates asks for infor- 

 mation regarding fossil ferns. Who has studied them 

 and where can the literature of the subject be obtained? 

 The United States Government has issued several 

 quarto volumes with numerous plates on the fossil 

 flora of various coal measures but we know of no com- 

 plete list of such publications. If any of our readers 

 can supply additional information we shall be glad to 

 publish it. It is about as easy to recognize the common 

 genera of fossil fern-plants as it is to recognize modern 

 genera, and various species can usually be as readily 

 distinguished. The region immediately south of the 

 home of the Fern Bulletin is famous for its coal fossils 

 and has recently yielded new material that throws an 

 important light on the origin of the flowering plants. 

 Every mineral collection, hereabout is sure to contain 

 specimens of fossil ferns which may be had for the 

 picking up about the dumps of many mines. 



More Nephrolepis "Species." — Gardeners every- 

 where ought to be thankful that a single variable spe- 

 cies of fern is likely to produce forms enough to allow 

 each grower to name one after himself. The namers 

 of the new forms of Nephrolepis exaltata have not the 

 slightest idea of nomenclature, except the fact that if 

 one adds an i to the end of his name and adds this to 

 the generic name of the fern in question it is supposed 

 to be named for him. That the canons of good taste 

 forbid that anybody should name a species or variety 



