— 120 — 



record as bearing forked or tasselled fronds, and so far as the 

 editor is aware, not one of these has been taken into cultivation 

 and only a very few have been given names. This fact will prob- 

 ably explain our position to some extent. When the editor has 

 leisure, he is going to dig up every one of these variants in his 

 own locality and send them to Mr. Druery, in anticipation of 

 which it would be well for the latter to consult his gardener and 

 glazier about an extension to his ferneries. — Ed.] 



FERNS IN BOTTLES. 



A correspondent sends us the following clipping from the 

 Westminster Gazette. We are unable to vouch for its accuracy, 

 but as it may give some cultivator a hint we reprint it in full. 



In a beautiful garden at Crouch End, belonging to one of 

 the few old world bowers which have withstood the tempting 

 offers of the building speculator, may be seen one of the queerest 

 freaks that Nature has ever played in park or garden. About 

 three years ago a long row of glass ginger bottles were placed 

 neck downward in the ground, with a few inches of the other end 

 projecting to form a border for the kitchen garden paths. Each 

 of these bottles now contains a fairy-like resident in the shape 

 of a dainty little fern, perfect in form and color, and of many 

 varities, the ribbon fern and hart's-tongue predominating. As 

 no ferns had at any time been planted in that part of the garden 

 it is amazing how they got there. Perhaps Nature thought it 

 foolish to waste so many little natural hothouses, and put in each 

 a pinch of the stuff she makes ferns of. If so, she must view 

 with much pride the result of her experiment. 



Miss Angie M. Ryon, Niantic, Conn., reports finding line 

 plants of Ophioglossum vulgatum upon a very rocky hillside, 

 the roots crowding themselves between the bits of rock that had 

 been broken up by loads of heavy timber passing over them the 

 previous year. The plants were exposed to the full rays of the 

 sun for most of the day. 



