tions to the above statement must be noted. Within a few years 
of each other, there appeared in the greenhouses of commercial 
growers in five states, amid countless thousands of normal 
Boston fern plants, six new varieties, sports, or mutations ; in 
other words, different kinds of ferns. It is of interest that these 
six new ferns may be grouped in three pairs, representing three 
kinds of differences, as compared with the Boston fern. 
Here in Brooklyn, in the greenhouse of John Scott, there 
appeared one form which differed from the Boston fern in being 
smaller, about two thirds as long, and with the leaf divisions 
(pinnae), somewhat curved and rolled. In New Jersey, in the 
greenhouses ot George Giatras, there appeared another smaller 
form, not more than half the length of the parent form, and with 
other differences making it even more distinct. Each grower 
named his variety after himself, as is the trade custom, and so we 
have the Scott fern and the Giatras fern. (Plate I, fig. 2). 
In Massachusetts, and in Tarrvtown, New York, another pair 
of new varieties was found, which differed from the Boston fern 
in having the leaves divided twice instead ot once; i.e., each 
lateral division was again divided, making each like a miniature 
leaf complete in itself. The Tarrytown fern was called Piersoni 
after its introducer, and the Massachusetts fern similarly was 
designated the Foster fern. (Plate II, fig. 2). Although alike in 
the amount of leaf division, they differed considerably in particu- 
lars of growth and shape of leaflets. 
The third pair of new forms differed less from the Boston fern 
and from each other than those already mentioned, but were yet 
entirely distinct and recognizable. In both cases the leaves 
showed an increase in ruffling, i.e., instead of being nearly flat 
and plane, the lateral divisions (leaflets or pinnae) were much 
fuller and somewhat crinkled, making a more beautiful leaf. 
Between these two new varieties, called respectively the Harris 
fern after its discoverer, a Philadelphia florist, and the Roosevelt 
tern, produced in Ohio, the main difference was a matter of size. 
On these six forms the case of evolution might well be rested. 
They are not strictly “ species,” although perhaps four of them 
offer sufficient differences to justify separation. In common with 
the parent Boston fern, these new forms are able to reproduce 
only by runners. Whether or not, if they had originated in nature, 
they would succeed as species under wild conditions, it is at 
present difficult to judge. It would be most interesting if an 
experiment on a large scale in some Florida woods were feasible; 
if, for example, colonies of several scores of plants of each of the 
different new forms could be set out under wild conditions and 
left for a year or more. It may be added, incidentally, that 
although there is possible doubt as to the survival value of these 
original Boston fern varieties, there is in the collection at the 
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, another series of new forms, which 
have had their origin there, and about whose fitness to survive 
there can be no possible doubt. 
These six Boston fern varieties just referred to illustrate two 
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