of a suburb of Boston. As a matter of fact it might well have 
been called the “Philadelphia” fern, as it was one of two hun- 
dred plants bought from Robert Craig, a Philadelphia florist, who, 
however, had not noticed that he had anything different from the 
ordinary sword fern. The Boston fern was introduced about 1895 
and florists everywhere began to grow it in considerable numbers. 
About eight years later, F. R. Pierson, of Tarrytown, found 
among his ordinary Boston ferns a plant with twice-divided 
leaves. This was so considerable a departure from the regular 
Boston fern type that he began to propagate it in large numbers, 
and later introduced it as a new variety, which he called Nephro- 
lepis Piersoni, or Tarrytown fern. From this form he has since 
developed many other and better varieties, some three and four 
divided. About the same time John Scott, a Brooklyn florist, 
discovered among his Boston ferns a new variety which was like 
the Boston fern except that it was much smaller, and so could be 
grown in smaller pots, and would not require as much space. He 
did not, however, call it the Brooklyn fern, but gave it his own 
name and called it Nephrolepis Scotti. It has since become one of 
the most widely grown of all Boston fern varieties. 
Since then other florists have discovered and introduced 
many other new varieties of Boston fern until now there are at 
least forty different named forms. Some of these are very beau- 
tiful, like Whitmani and magnified, introduced by Barrows of 
Whitman, Mass.; Harrisi, by Harris of Philadelphia; Roosevelti 
and Teddy Jr., by the American Rose and Plant Co., of Spring- 
field, Ohio; robusta, by Craig of Philadelphia; Smithi , by Dreer 
of Philadelphia, and others. So many different kinds have been 
produced that it has become advisable to study them carefully, 
and for this reason a collection is being gathered at the Brooklyn 
Botanic Garden. Here the plants are being grown and studied. 
Nearly all of the named American varieties have been already ob- 
tained, as far as possible, from their original producers in order 
that there might be no doubt about the authenticity of the 
varieties. 
Some one will wish to know about the selection of the proper 
varieties for house culture. This will depend entirely on the 
conditions which obtain. With a conservatory and proper care it 
will be possible to grow any of the varieties. Good light they all 
need. The brightest sunlight is better than too little. In the 
florists’ greenhouses they are usually grown in the brightest 
light, or in summer with a coating of whitewash on the glass 
roofs. A moderate temperature, in winter from fifty to seventy 
degrees Fahrenheit, is maintained for them in the commercial 
establishments. Of water they need enough to keep the soil 
moist, not wet. They should not be allowed to become dried out, 
nor should they be kept continuously soaked. 
