30 Lowe and Jones . — On Abnormal Ferns , 
frondosum , alatum , line are, conge stum, inaequale-variegatum , 
and others. The polydactylous character of P. angulare has 
also been transferred to P. aculeatum. 
There are now four clearly established cases in which the 
characters of distinct forms of P. angulare have been trans- 
ferred to P. aculeatum . Hitherto the varieties of P. acideatum 
have been very few, so that now a new field for exertion is 
open, the results of which it is difficult to overestimate, for 
the robust constitution of P. acideatum enables it to thrive in 
climates in which P. angulare would soon perish. 
The interest in the varieties of British Ferns ought to in- 
crease now the crossing of varieties has become an acknow- 
ledged fact, alike on account of the extreme beauty of many 
of the crosses already effected, and also because, however 
beautiful crosses already obtained are, it may be confidently 
asserted that they are nothing to what will be accomplished 
when exhaustive experiments, guided by tasteful and judicious 
selection, shall have been made. Though much will depend on 
selection, there will always be enough left to the element of 
chance to keep up the interest. We may liken the prospect 
of endless combinations to the combinations in bell-ringing, 
and we learn that the changes in the ringing of twelve bells 
amount to forty millions. We can scarcely conceive of the 
immense field of inquiry that is opened up in these investiga- 
tions. The number of forms to be obtained is past all con- 
ception, and as the discovery of one truth is the stepping-stone 
to the discovery of even greater truths, so every new form that 
is raised, enables the raiser or those following in his footsteps 
to produce countless other combinations. 
