— 104. — 



the Genera of Ferns," Atkinson's "Transformation of Sporo- 

 phyllary to Vegetative Organs," and Mrs. Britton's "Life History 

 of Schizaea Pnsilla." It is interesting to note in this connection 

 that the books of the decade preceding the one just passed are all 

 out of print. Williamson's "Ferns of Kentucky," was first to go. 

 "Eaton's "Ferns of North America," and Robinson's "Ferns in 

 Their Homes and Ours" have gone out of print during the present 

 year. 



Thus our survey reaches the present. What the future will 

 bring is a matter for pleasant speculation. The decade now clos- 

 ing has been by far the most productive in the history of American 

 fern study, but it is very likely that the one beginning will sur- 

 pass it. If one can judge of the future by the events of the past, 

 it may be prophesied that the next ten years will be characterized 

 by still greater activity in the study of varieties and forms. The 

 number of new species yet to be found in North America is ex- 

 tremely small, but we are just entering upon an era of intensive 

 study that will more clearly limit species and define the lesser 

 forms. The cultivation of ferns in the conservatory and the fern 

 garden is also likely to receive added impetus throwing new light 

 upon the development of many species, particularly those like 

 Botrychium dissectum whose specific rank is still questioned. The 

 rearing of ferns from spores and the study of the young forms is 

 no doubt destined to be taken up by many. In ten years more 

 the range of most of our species will be defined with greater ex- 

 actness and their life histories fairly well known. That it may 

 continue to chronicle these events as they pass, is the ambition of 

 the Fern Bulletin. 



There seems to be a much greater diversity in the habitat of 

 Ophioglossum vulgatum than the books are accustomed to credit 

 it with. From the Catskill Mountains Mr. T. C. Buchheister 

 reports specimens both in sphagnum swamps and on dry hillsides, 

 the latter in company with blue-berries and Lycopodiuvns. The 

 swamp specimens were 15 inches or more high, while those in 

 dry ground were less than half that height. There was the usual 

 abundance of sterile plants and some fertile specimens with 

 sessile fruiting spikes were noted. 



