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dener's many-petalled creations. If Mr. Druery will visit "the 

 States" we will take pleasure in turning over to him all our 

 abnormal specimens. — Ed.] 



ROBERT ROBINSON SCOTT. 



About forty years ago the first specimens of the fern known 

 as Asplenium ebcnoidcs were found, and since then the plant has 

 obtained a place in all botanical manuals as a distinct species. 

 Notwithstanding this, it has often been suggested that its appear- 

 ance indicates a hybrid origin, the supposed parents being Asplen- 

 ium cbeneum and Camptosorus rhizophyllus. This supposition 

 having recently been proved to be the correct one, and atten- 

 tion again drawn to the fern, we take pleasure in presenting a 

 portrait of R. R. Scott, who first discovered it, and of adding 

 the following biographical sketch by Mr. Edwin C. Jellett. The 

 photograph from which the engraving was made is the only one 

 ever taken of Scott, and was secured for us through the courtesy 

 of Mr. Jellett. 



R. Robinson Scott, like many of our best gardeners and 

 botanists, came from the "old country," where, at Belfast, Ire- 

 land, he was born in the year 1827. In his youth, being fond of 

 flowers, he resolved to devote himself to horticulture and botany, 

 and in pursuit of his plans, connected himself with the Botanic 

 Garden of Glasneven, near Dublin, where he followed the pre- 

 scribed course of studies. From Glasneven he went to Kew, in 

 England, and there he made such progress that in a few months, 

 it is said, "he was familiar with every plant in the Kew Garden 

 collection." 



Being of an enthusiastic temperament, at the breaking out of 

 the Smith O'Brien Rebellion, he abandoned botanical pursuits 

 temporarily, and took an active part in the struggle. At the close 

 of the Rebellion, he decided to settle in America, and came to 

 Philadelphia, where he entered the employ of Robert Buist. Be- 

 ing ambitious and possessing strong literary talents, he soon 

 launched out for himself, and in April, 1852, he presented to the 

 public the first issue of "The Philadelphia Florist," a magazine, 

 which, if it had proved as successful financially as it was suc- 

 cessful in other respects, would have left, as Professor Median 



