NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



787 



to a must qualities which it did not originally possess, nor can one 

 hope to imitate particular wines by the use of yeasts selected from 

 those wines.— 'M. L. H. 



I European Plants Growing- without Cultivation in Colorado. 



By Francis Eamaley (Ann. Jard. Bot. Butt. 3rd supp. 2nd part, 1910, 

 pp. 493-504; with 1 map). — There are ninety-five species of European 

 I plants growing without cultivation in Colorado. Of these, twenty-six 

 are garden escapes, while the rest have been introduced in various 

 ways. New introductions are occurring from time to time, chiefly 

 along the lines of railway. In railroad yards, especially where cattle 

 and sheep are loaded, and along new embankments or where street 

 grading is being done, introduced plants gain a foothold. Away from 

 railway lines these plants follow waggon roads. The distribution of 

 these plants, according to altitude, &c., is discussed, and a list of the 

 species given. — B. B. 



Fern Spores, Longevity of (Garden, Jan. 22, 1910, p. 38).— 



An instance of spores of Cheilanthes mysuriensis collected in China in 

 October 1899, and preserved as herbarium specimens, germinating at 

 Kew in March 1908, is recorded. 



(Garden, Feb. 5, 1910, p. 62). — Another instance of spores of Dicfe- 

 sonia antarctica gathered in 1852, germinating in 1874, is given. 



H. B. D. 



Ferns, British, Various (Brit. Fern. Gaz. Nos. 3-6, 1910; figs.). 

 Numerous papers and notes, especially on varietal forms of British 

 ferns, the principal being (pt. 3) on Lastrea Pseudo-mas cristata; 

 the decorative value of British ferns ; the Jones and Fox collection in 

 Clifton Zoological Gardens; (pfc. 4) raising Lastrea montana from 

 :spores; plumose varieties of ferns; (pt. 5) the common Bracken; crest- 

 I ing in ferns; (pt. 6) pedigree of Athyrium felix-joemina Icalothrix; a 

 cool-house fernery. — F. J. C. 



Ferns, Filmy. By F. W. H. (Garden, May 7, 1910, p. 228; 

 2 figs.). — Though not suitable for cultivation in many gardens, these 

 ferns might in many instances be accommodated. They take their name 

 I from the film of moisture which covers their fronds in the growing 

 season. The family is not large, the three principal genera being 

 Hymenophyllum, Trichomanes, and Todea, but there are many species 

 and varieties, the majority being natives of New Zealand and Australia. 

 In the United Kingdom we have representatives of the two first families, 

 1 the Killarney fern (Trichomanes radicans) and the Tunbridge Wells 

 j * fern (Hymenophyllum tunhridaense) and the one-sided filmy fern, 

 I H. unilaterale. They are usually found in deep mountain recesses near 

 running water. 



In this country it is generally necessary to provide them with a glass 

 ' case in a cool greenhouse. Frost must be kept away in winter, but the 

 j cooler they are in summer the better. At Messrs. Backhouse's nursery 

 ! 3 F 2 



