26 
CHOICE BRITISH FERNS. 
by their solitariness and decided distinctness, force ns, as we 
have said, to the conclusion that they must be sudden sports 
from the spores of the common Ferns with which they are 
found associated, there being no intermediate forms found 
which could support the idea of a graduated series of varia- 
tions leading up to them. The difference between them and the 
common forms is fully as great as any recorded sudden sports 
of highly-cultivated plants, and often fully equals the accu- 
mulated differences of many generations of selective culture. 
Cultivated plants, too, it must be borne in mind, can hardly 
vary to any great extent without the striking difference being 
remarked, seeing that, in trade hands — to which our remarks 
especially apply — they are usually grown in orderly ranks, are 
constantly under easy inspection by trained eyes, and are, 
moreover, almost certain to pass individually through several 
professional hands, in their career from the seed or cutting 
bed to their final destination when sold, whether that be the 
kitchen, the conservatory, or the plantation. 
Wild plants, on the other hand, are altogether differently 
situated ; they are scattered broadcast in the most unfre- 
quented places, are often difficult of access, and are mixed 
up anyhow with all sorts of other species of plants, as 
well as with various species of their own family, which dis- 
tract the attention, that must be concentrated to reap success. 
A moment’s consideration will show that, in the first case, the 
chances are all against a marked variation escaping notice; 
while in the second, even the most extraordinary sport is 
more than likely to escape attention. Yet the record of 
Fern finds shows us that, given a Ferny locality, and a good 
Fern-hunter domiciled close by, a large number of very dis- 
tinct forms is sure to be added to the flora of the locality — 
i.e., the wild plants, when subjected to the same careful 
examination as the cultivated ones, yield, according to our 
contention, equally striking results. In making this asser- 
tion, we are fully aware that we are running in the teeth of 
horticultural belief; but we are confident that our argument 
is supported by a sufficient number of facts to merit careful 
consideration. 
