that such old leaves indicate old stock, which the florist was not 
able to dispose of at its best stage. 
Finally some may wish to know something about the selection 
among the various forms of the best kinds for different purposes. 
For house cultivation from year to year the following varieties of 
the Boston i&xn—Harrisi , Roosevelti, Scol/i, and Teddy Jr ., — in 
the order named, will probably succeed best of all. These are 
all once-pinnate forms, the last two named being dwarfs. Among 
the twice-pinnate forms, the best for house purposes are the 
Pierson forms, elegantissima and elegantissima compacta , and the 
Barrows varieties, Whitmani and Whitmani compacta. Scliolzeli 
and magnifica are dainty, three-pinnate forms, while Smithi , 
the so-called Philadelphia lace fern, and Amerpohli are exquisite 
four-pinnate forms, which even in the best house conditions need 
to be replaced occasionally with fresh stock from the florist. 
In conclusion it may be noted that despite the difficulties in 
the way of cultivating ferns in the house the Boston fern and its 
varieties have won their place as the most popular house plant 
because there are no other plants of equal beauty which will suc- 
ceed as easily. 
Ralph C. Benedict 
NOTICES 
The Garden is open free to the public daily, from 8 a. m. un- 
til sunset; on Sundays and holidays at 10 a. m. The Laboratory 
Building, containing the library, herbarium, and offices, is open 
daily, from 9 a. m. until 5 p. m. The Conservatories are open 
April 1-October 1, 10 a. m.-4:30 p. m.; October 1-April 1, 10 
a. m.-4 p. m. 
The Garden may be reached by Flatbush Avenue trolley to 
Malbone Street; Franklin Avenue and Lorimer Street trolleys to 
Washington Avenue; St. John’s Place trolley to Sterling Place; 
Ninth Avenue, Sixteenth Avenue, Union Street, Greenpoint and 
Smith Street trolleys to Prospect Park Plaza and Union Street, and 
Brighton Beach elevated to Consumers’ Park Station. (The ele- 
vated train stops only when the conductor is notified in advance.) 
A docent will meet parties by appointment and conduct them 
through the Garden. This service is free to members of the 
Botanic Garden and to teachers with classes; to others there is a 
nominal charge of 25 cents an hour for parties of less than three, 
and 10 cents a person per hour for parties of three or more. 
Current numbers of Leaflets are free to all who wish them. 
Back series, complete, 50c. each; single numbers, 5c. each. 
The Leaflets are published weekly or bi-weekly from April to June, and 
September to November, inclusive, by The Brooklyn Institute of Arts and 
Sciences, at Washington Avenue and Montgomery Street. Brooklyn, N- Y. 
Telephone: 6173 Prospect. 
Mail address: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, N. Y, 
