—45— 



a single plant showing characteristics of both plants but like 

 neither, should prove the reverse. Hybrids are well known to be 

 sterile, and if after repeated trials, spores from supposed hybrids 

 failed to germinate, this would go a long way to prove such 

 hybridity. 



While comparatively little scientific interest at- 

 FERN taches to the finding of obscure varieties in the 

 VARIETIES wild state, it cannot be denied that the fern culti- 

 vator may get much pleasure from a collection of 

 such forms. The one who finds a wild variety has something 

 unique, and may derive a certain satisfaction from the knowledge 

 that the form is entirely his own. If he chooses, he can multiply 

 the find as many times as desired, for spores of such varieties 

 will produce plants like the parent. Indeed, it is said that spores 

 from an abnormal part of a frond will reproduce the abnormality 

 in the new plants. As yet, this branch of fern-growing has re- 

 ceived little attention in America, although a collection of such 

 forms would add an attractive feature to the fern garden. Those 

 who have about exhausted the possibilities of finding species new 

 to their locations, might find in the search for varieties a virgin 

 field for their efforts. 



NOTES. 



— In an article upon the extent of dodder parasitism, in the 

 Plant World for May, 1898, Mr. E. J. Hill mentions Onoclea 

 se?isibilis and Dryopteris thelypteris among the list of host plants. 



— G. A. Woolson, in American Gardening for January 14th, 

 claims that Dryopteris patens is hardy in Vermont, a plant set 

 out by him having wintered in that latitude. A life-sized nature 

 print of the sterile frond is given. 



—The report of the seventh annual meeting (1S98) of the British 

 Pteridological Society has just 'been received. It contains the 

 three papers presented at the meeting, namely, " Ferns as Pet 

 Plants," "Fern Growing in the Towns," and " Polystichum 

 Angulare proliferum, past, present and future." Charles T. 

 Druery, F. L. S., one of our valued contributors, was elected 

 president of the society for the current year. 



—It has long been believed that the forms of Selaginclla in 

 America which have been referred to S. ritpestris would be found 



