188 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 8. | 
very often uniform, but never permanently so. Tiie laeiniate 
sub-group varies more under cultivation than any other, but 
always keeps sufficiently near to the type to be recognized 
easily from any other except the subvariety Truneatum, 
between which and it some confusion exists at present, 
principally arising from the groups not having (owing to its 
ugliness) been as much studied as the Ramose or lustate 
type, but doubtless, after a little more examination,?it will 
be found as well defined as that group. I have prepared a 
list of all the forms that appear to belong to the groups 
mentioned to-night, but can look on them as to a certain 
extent imperfect, as, doubtless, forms belonging to other 
groups are mixed up with them, owing to want of specimens 
and information about the plants. Indeed, I think the class 
themselves are to a certain extent only provisional, contain¬ 
ing within them probably the nucleus of other classes. My 
object has been to collect together all the abnormal forms, 
and as far as possible group them; how far or how natural 
this has been done it must remain for others to judge. A 
few words about a point of nomenclature. When a variety 
and subvariety are found in conjunction, it is proposed to 
call tljo form by the name of the variety, merely adding 
alter it, “ in combination with subvar. Ac.; ” when two 
varieties or subvarieties are conjoined, either to name 
it after that best marked, or make a similar addition to 
that above, or to call it after both, as we speak at present 
of red and white roses, Ac. To the names used some 
may, and doubtless will, object. If the scientific world 
in general, or even the majority of them, choose to adopt 
others, I am content, provided that there be unanimity 
as to the names chosen, and to the definitions of these 
names' thus chosen. Thus, gentlemen, I have ended 
the task proposed by myself of collecting and grouping 
these abnormal forms; how far I have succeeded it is not 
for me to judge: Doubtless, improvements and alterations 
can be suggested, but I doubt that few of importance as re¬ 
gards these six groups will be made. Forms may be re¬ 
moved from groups into which they are at present unwill¬ 
ingly placed (as Ain. R. M. var. dissectum) which is fruitful, 
and evidently belongs to some form of Ramosum. The 
forms, with contused venation, at present included under 
Laciniatum, hut which probably belong to the same form of 
Ramosum, into others to which they should belong, but, as 
I stated before, I believe the types should remain intact. 
On physiology I have scarcely touched, my sole object 
having been the collecting and grouping of those strange 
and varied forms whose study is of almost equal importance 
with that of the limitation and definition of species, since 
by it I am convinced much light can be thrown on the 
other. Any further information or explanation concerning 
this subject I have in my power I will gladly impart to those 
desiring it, and thankfully receive additional information, 
either regarding the forms enumerated, or any others 
unknown to me at present.” Dr. Kinalian illustrated these 
remarks by numerous specimens of the forms mentioned, 
and by plants of the following unrecorded forms:—Phyl. 
scolopendrinium, var. Laciniatum, apex of frond formal, 
basal half of frond contracted and serrated unsymmetrically; 
fruitful venation in apical portion of frond confused— 
neighbourhood of Drogheda, Co. Louth, March, 1804; Phyl. j 
scolopendrium, var. Laciniatum (?) frond irregularly lobed, 
venation very much confused, barren—Dounybrook, Co. 
Dublin, December, 1853 ; Am. Ruta Muraria, var, Lacinia- 
tum (?) fronds symmetrical, contracted, fruitful—King 
William’s Glen, Co. Louth, April, 1854; Am. Ruta Muraria, 
sub-var. Truneatum, fronds irregularly contracted, leallet 
reduced to a mere midrib—Marla)', Co. Dublin, 1853. 
Mr. Andrews said that the specimens exhibited and the 
forms illustrated by Dr. Kinahan exemplified the nume¬ 
rous varieties of the fronds, and tlieir departures from the ori¬ 
ginal type that occurred even among the ferns of this 
country. In England, some botanists laid so multiplied 
these sub-forms that it was difficult to arrange and to recon¬ 
cile such alterations of species. Dr. Kinahan lias pro¬ 
posed a classification for all these forms (among which 
some are really beautiful), and, as lie has so industriously 
shown the multitudinous forms of several of the genera of 
the ferns of this country, Mr. Andrews considered an ar¬ 
rangement of the kind desirable, in order to place those 
departures from the original type into such divisions as 
their several gradations seemed to authorize. It is shown ! 
that, when ferns exhibit extremes of monstrosity of growth, ] 
the variations become changed and confused, the character of | 
the frond greatly altered, and a barren state sometimes con- i 
sequent, which is seen in one of the forms this night exhibi- ! 
ted, the Polypodium cambricum, in some instances tlie 
absence of fructification is supplied by bulbillre, and the 
development of young plants continued. In others, as in 
Asplenium or Camptosorus rhizophyllum (walking fern), a 
viviparous action of the apex takes root, and produces young 
plants. In Adiautum capillus veneris, Dfictor Ball pointed 
out a singular vegetating principle affecting the termination 
of the pinnules; and in Woodvvordia radicans young plants 
are produced from the backs of the fronds, and extend ' 
their range of growth similar to the Asplenium rhizophyl- ; 
lain. It is characteristic of these forms that most retain j 
those deviations under cultivation. In tlie pliaenogamous j 
plants such rules likewise occur as are instanced in the j 
Saxifrages, that present such variations both in foliage and j 
inflorescence, aud which they retain in garden culture. | 
Some that have imperfect fructificature, bulbillie form in the j 
axils of the branches, as in the case of Saxifraga leucanthe- 
mifolia, aud which led Dr. Robert Brown to name an Arctic 
species Saxifraga foliolosa. 
{To be continued.) 
TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
*** We request that no one will write to the departmental writers of 
Tiik Cottage Gardener. It gives them unjustifiable trouble and 
expense. All communications should be addressed “ To the Editor of 1 
! The Cottage Gardener, 2, Amen Corner , Paternoster Row, London .” j 
Royal Botanic Society’s Show (F.).—We arc obliged by your j 
i asking us tlie question. The sole reason of our not giving a report was, 
i that our usual Reporter, unknown to us, was laid up by illness at the time. , 
Pansky Soil (W. Bankes ).—The soil may be of any light loam, 
though that from an old pasture is best. To three barrow-loads of loam 
atld one of thoroughly decayed stable manure, such as the remains of 
old hotbeds. Make the bed twelve inches deep of this soil, in a situa¬ 
tion protected from winds and shaded from the mid-day sun. There is [ 
! no need to beat the bottom of the bed solid. 
Rhubarb Growing (J . IF.).—There is no separate work on this | 
subject. You will find full particulars in The Cottage Gardeners ’ Die - 
, tionary , with a drawing, but too long to extract. 
Golden Pheasant (H. H .).—There is a work published “On the j 
Breeding, Rearing, and Management of this Bird.” We shall be much. * 
obliged by any reader wlio keeps them sending us information on these 
points. 
Salt for Asparagus (An Old Subscriber). —You will have seen the 
answer to another inquirer, and if that is not sufficient, please to say 
what further information you require. 
Eradicating Colts’ Foot (T. A .).—Forking out the roots and 
draining the soil are the best remedies. 
Mortality among Young Chickens (C. C. Mossop ).—We suppose 
| yours are Dorkings, which are proverbially delicate during chickcnhood.* 
Keep them in a dry, thickly-sanded shed ; give them an egg boiled hard 
and chopped fine, mixed with moistened meal. One egg to every six 
chicks daily. Give them a daily supply of green food, and let them run 
out all day if it be fine, but keeping the hen under a coop. 
Rose Bugs (Rosetta). —We have received your note, but no “ bugs.” 
Names of Plants (Dubitans). —We believe it to be Crataegus pen- 
tagyna. (R. P.).— lsatis tinctoria, or Dyer’s Wood ; an English plant, 
but rather rare. (C. and H.). —The white-leaved plant, Cerastium 
tomentosum ; the other is like Collomia gilioides , but we cannot tell 
unless we see the bloom. (G. A.). —The Fuchsia is F. bacillar is, which 
is often called reflexu . The yellow Composite flower is Neja gracilis, a 
little half-hardy bedding plant from Mexico. The leaf may be that of 
some Ruellia (not Roellia), but among so many plants which are often 
ill-defined and very difficult to make out, even when seen in flow er, it is 
very difficult, and seldom safe,,to trust to a single leaf for determination. 
Under this head we can hold out no great expectations of any clear or 
right decisions from seeing a leaf, or few leaves; the flowers, and as 
much of the history of the plants as is known, ought to accompany spe¬ 
cimens. It lessens our labour and the consumption of our time. 
London: Printed by Harry Wooldridge, Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar ; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, of Church Hill, Walthamstow, in the County of 
Essex, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the Parish of Christ 
Church, City of London.—June 8th, 1854. 
