y^ ^i3^ 


VOL. 1. No. 1. 


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JSritieb ]f em 
(3a5ette- 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


September^ 1909. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M,H,, FX,S. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Secretary: Mr. G. WHITWELL, Serpentine Cottage), 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


. ♦ . XTbe . . . 


:Brit(6b fctn 
©asette. 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


VOL. U Nos. 1 — 12. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., FX.S. 

{Hon. Secretary, ii, Shaa Road, Acton, London, IV.) 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 
1909 — 1912. 


See page 3. 


THE 


NT' 


<^V»k.-- 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 


Vol. I. SEPTEMBER, 1909. 


No. I. 


CONTENTS. 


page. 


Preface 


I 


Our Frontispiece .. 


3 


Our Native Ferns .. 


5 


The Life History of a Fern .. 


8 


Fern Hunting Episodes .. 


II 


Wild Sports in British Ferns.. 


14 


Personal Fern Finds 


18 


N.B.— Partly inevitably, partly accidentally, the whole of this number is from the 
editorial pen, the next issue, however, will contain interesting contributions by Dr. 
F. W. Stansfield, Mr. G. Whitwell, and, it is hoped, other lovers of the cult.— Ed. 

PREFACE. 

A resolution was passed on August 2nd, igog, at the 
annual meeting of the British Pteridological Society at 
Kendal, at the suggestion of Mr. Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., 
F.L.S., that a quarterly publication should be established 
and issued dealing with British species of Ferns, particularly 
from the varietal point of view. For many years the 
encouragement of this special " cult " has been the object 
of the Society, but as its records simply embraced reports 
of the annual meetings, with only occasional additional 
contributions of papers by the members, it was felt that 
its utility was too circumscribed, and that in view of the 
fact of the immensely increased popularity of the varietal 
forms as decorative plants, it was essential to arrange for 
greater publicity, and the periodical issue of such a 
"Gazette" as that of which this number forms the 
first issue. To the existing members of the " cult " it is 
^ unnecessary to dilate upon the wonderful development 
-^ in British Fern varieties, which has been brought about 


J 


by new " finds " and selective culture during more than 
half a century since they last enjoyed popularity, but to 
those outside the society, it may be well to state that at the 
period indicated, the thoroughbred wild finds or "sports" 
were comparatively few in number, and that, very unwisely, 
a considerable number of inferior, defective, and inconstant 
forms were propagated and distributed with the inevitable 
result that the really beautiful forms were swamped. For 
this reason popularity declined, and eventually the cult 
was only pursued by a small coterie of enthusiastic fern 
hunters, raisers, and selectors who maintained collections, 
and by new discoveries and fortunate sowings have 
gradually accumulated such an immense amount of material 
that the new era of popularity is little likely to w^ane for 
the same reason as previously. 

The late Mr. E. J. Lowe's list of British Ferns, pub- 
lished in 1891, records and describes nearly two thousand 
distinct forms, to which many have been added since. 
From this list and the subsequent acquisitions, the Society 
compiled in 1901 "The Book of British Ferns," which 
confined itself entirely to the thoroughbred, symmetrical, 
and constant varieties which it deemed worthy of culti- 
vation. This book, which is profusely illustrated and deals 
in separate sections with both the popular and scientific 
side of the " cult," brought the records up to the said date, 
and is obtainable either from the Secretary , or Messrs. 
Newnes, price 3/6, post free 3/9. 

The literature of British Ferns is fairly copious, but in 
the great majority of cases only deals with the normal 
ferns, and hence, from the Society's point of view, may be 
largely ignored. The exceptions are Britten's "European 
Ferns," Moore's " Nature Printed Ferns," 1859, E. J. 
Lowe's, "Our Native Ferns," 1867 (2 vols.), "New 
and Rare Ferns " (i vol.), and the small pocket list 
already mentioned, " British Ferns," 1891, plus those 
above alluded to. It may, however, be confidently 
asserted that the " Book of British Ferns," which is 
profusely illustrated, is the only one which deals, from the 


expert's point of view, with the best forms comprehensively 
up to a recent date, and also gives in an appendix an 
account of the remarkable results of their scientific study. 

The object of the present " Gazette " is to bring these 
records up to date, and to this end all lovers of fern 
"sports" are invited to send to the Editor full particulars 
of new ** finds " or fresh acquisitions obtained by selective 
culture, sending fronds for consideration. These will be 
acknowledged by post in any case, provided stamps be sent fov 
reply, and a record will appear in the " Gazette" if quality 
justifies it. A reminder may be given that it is the aim of 
the Society to lead up to and encourage better and better 
types, and, in view of the abujidance of good material, to 
discourage inferior ones ; an object which the Editor will 
strictly adhere to. An exchange column is contemplated, 
but we reserve this question for the time being, contenting 
ourselves in this issue with a cordial invitation to all British 
fern lovers to send us any suggestions or matter for publica- 
tion which they may consider in the interest of the cult, 
and within the scope of this " Gazette." 

Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S., 

Stanimxhank, SJiaa Road, Editor. 

Acton, London, W. 

P.S. — The Editor requests that this number may be 
taken as an indication to those many friends who promised 
their support that their names have been placed on the list 
of subscribers, and, at the same time, of members of the 
British Pteridological Society, and that their subscription, 
5/- per annum (embracing four issues of the " Gazette "), 
should be remitted to the Secretary, Mr. George Whitwell, 
Serpentine College, Kendal ; or to the Editor, as above. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

The Fern frond depicted on our frontispiece* represents 
undoubtedly one of the most remarkable "jumps" in 
selective Fern evolution, as will be seen by a comparison 

'•' From a photograph kindly provided by Mr. C. B. Green. 


with a portion of a frond of the parent plant. The said 
parent Poiystichum aculcatum pulcliervimum was found 
nearly forty years ago by a farm labourer in a Dorsetshire 
hedge, and since that time has only been propagated by 


POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM PULCH EKRIMU M. 

offsets owing to its infertility as regards spores. A few 
years back, however, a few spores were found, and Mr. 
C. B. Green, of Acton, and the Editor made a joint sowing, 
with the remarkable result that about twenty plants of 
altogether different types resulted amid a number of the 


5 

parental form, and a few reversions towards the normal. 
The photo reproduced represents so far the most extra- 
ordinary of these secondary " sports," but several of the 
others are of wonderful delicacy of cutting, the parental 
half-inch pinnacles being extended sometimes to nearly 
three inches, and of almost hairlike tenuity. Two have 
obtained first class certificates from the Royal Horticultural 
Society, and a third, which is on quite different lines, and 
is finely dissected and plumose, an award of merit. The- 
appearance of these varieties established an altogether 
new section among varietal Shield Ferns, and constitutes 
an unique example among secondary sports. 

C. T. D. 

OUR NATIVE FERNS. 

Although the rider of every hobby is apt to exaggerate 
its importance, it is absolutely safe to say that amongst all 
branches of the gardening hobby, that relating to our 
native ferns in their varietal forms is unique in interest. 
The British Isles, compared to many tropical or sub- 
tropical fern lands, are poor in species, numbering only some 
forty odd as against hundreds, but for some reason so far 
inscrutable these few species have proved themselves to be 
capable of assuming so many sportive forms as to far and 
away exceed, in varietal diversity, all the rest of the ferns 
of the world put together. This may, perhaps, be partly 
imputed to the fact that while exotic ferns, of which so 
many species have been introduced, have mainly been 
discovered by general botanists who do not individually 
examine the great numbers of plants they meet with, with 
a view to discover the comparatively rare " sports," our 
home ferns have been for more than half a century subjected 
to that special and persevering search by expert fern, 
hunters, which is alone qualified to earn success by the 
discovery of new forms. It is a common thing to hear 
from persons who have been visiting our ferny districts 
that " ferns were there in thousands but only the common 
ones," in obvious ignorance of the fact that wherever these 

B 


common or normal forms abound, there is a chance of 
finding a "sport" and that when such a "sport" is 
discovered it is usually a solitary specimen, and so mixed 
up or hidden, partly or wholly, by its common associates 
that a very keen eye and a persistent investigation of every 
clump are required to detect it. Superficially, therefore, 
the remark is justified, but let the expert take that district 
in hand for a day or so, and he will be unfortunate indeed 
if he does not return with a find or two, possibly rare or 
new, but in any case constituting an interesting souvenir 
of the locality. The " find," as we have said, may be 
anywhere, old walls, pollard trees, rocky chinks, stone 
dykes by the roadside, the sloping hedge banks of shady 
lanes, or the ferny recesses of woods and glens, all forms 
of habitat indeed may be teeming with normals from tiny 
seedlings or dwarfed adults to shoulder-high specimens 
forming a jungle. Thousands, or even tens of thousands 
of these come under the fern hunter's eye in the day's 
search, and then, perhaps, when almost despairing of a bag, 
a tiny tassel or the tip of an extra finely cut or otherwise 
varied frond is sighted, and lo ! on extricating the fern from 
the crowd, all its fronds are seen to be so characterized, and a 
more or less valuable gem is unearthed to swell the hunter's 
collection. It is in this way that considerably over a 
thousand distinct varieties have been found and recorded, 
and it is in this way that that number is constantly being 
added to by those who make a hobby of fern hunting from 
the varietal side as distinct from those who raid the common 
ones by the basketful, and in many cases have thus 
destroyed Nature's raw material for long distances round 
popular and otherwise ferny resorts. We, ourselves, have 
been, more jocularly than seriously, accused of similar 
vandalism when, after a week or so's search, we have 
returned with a boxful of acquisitions, but there is a vital 
difference between the two classes of collection. Follow 
the ordinary raider, and we may often see the collected roots 
subsequently thrown away when by neglect they have 
wilted and lost their freshness, or if they reach home alive 


they are dumped into the soil regardless of aspect, burning 
sun or windy conditions, so that if they do not perish by 
slow degrees, they can never develop the beauty they 
displayed in their normal habitat. In short, it is safe to 
say that the great bulk of ferns so removed are simply 
destroyed. Follow now the fern hunter proper. He finds 
a good variety, the roots of which after careful removal he 
wraps in wet moss, packing the fronds also carefully to 
prevent damage. Arrived home, if his find be a new one, 
his first care is to collect its spores and make a sowing^ 
and the probability is that in a year or two he will have 
provided all his fern-loving friends with specimens for 
exchange ot otherwise, thus multiplying and perpetuating 
instead of destroying. More than this, since the spores of 
good varieties are apt to yield not only the parental type, 
but also improvements in same, he may eventually be the 
proud owner of a new race or section of beautiful ferns 
which would never have seen the light had the original 
" find " been overlooked. 

Recurring now to the " unique" character of the British 
Fern cult, it is truly unique in the sense that there is no 
other race of w^ild plants which is capable of providing all 
the material for splendid collections exclusively from home 
mateviaL Take any other floral hobby we will, and when 
we inquire into the history of a collection, we shall 

inevitably find exotic or foreign influence to figure largely 
in it, both as regards origin of the plants concerned and 
also their raisers ; but with a few exceptions, which can be 
counted on the fingers, consisting of varieties of such 
species as are indigenous in other countries as well as 
Britain and have been introduced by fern-loving travellers, 
the British Fern cult is a purely national one, devoted to 
native plants all found wild in our woods, lanes and glens 
in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Channel 
Islands, or derived from such wild parents by selection of 
their progeny. Another point in their favour is that being 
native plants, they are all hardy, with the exception of the 
maidenhair and the sea spleenwort, which are confined to 


our warm western coasts or sheltered caves and cliffs. All the 
rest stand frost with impunity, and as they are lovers of 
shady conditions which are unfitted for healthy floral 
cultivation, they are particularly adapted for culture in 
thousands of conservatories whence sunshine is largely 
excluded by their position, while for shady rockeries in the 
open a good collection can be made of abounding interest. 
Finally, the British Fern cult or hobby possesses that great 
advantage over what we may term inorganic hobbies, 
such as bric-a-brac, postage stamps and curio collections 
generally, in that it deals with the inexhaustible wonders of 
Nature at first hand. The fern hunter in his quest 
traverses the most beautiful parts of the kingdom, pursues 
his rambles through them, enjoying fresh air and revelling 
in lovely prospects in the intervals when his intently 
roving eye can withdraw itself from the ferns which line 
the way, and which, to the experienced hunter, rivet his 
attention upon them by the recognised fact that at any 
moment a prize may turn up to reward his perseverance, 
and which, unlike the bric-a-brac or the postage stamp, 
may eventually be multiplied ad infinitum if he deems 
it precious enough to justify the trouble. C. T. D. 


THE LIFE HISTORY OF A FERN. 

As the thorough-going Fern student should know some- 
thing more than the mere outward aspects of the Fern by 
which he is enabled to determine the species, it will not be 
out of place to give in as non-technical a way as possible, a 
short account of how ferns differ from flowering plants, and 
how, despite the absence of flowers and obvious seed, they 
manage to reproduce themselves. In the first place, then, 
Ferns belong to the spore producing tribes of plants as 
distinct from the seed-bearing or flowering ones, and since 
fertilization is an essential to constant reproduction and the 
persistence of a species while the spore difl"ers from a seed 
in not being the outcome of such fertilization, it becomes 
necessary to know how and where this vital function is 
fulfilled. A seed, as we know, simply requires to be sowa 


to produce directly a root and leaf system without any 
circumlocution whatever. The spore, on the other hand, 
when it is sown simply germinates and produces a little 
green heart-shaped scale (prothallus) closely attached to 
the soil by a multitude of tiny root-hairs, and from this in 
course of time a little fern rises, duly provided with root 
and frond and capable of independent existence. This, 
however, it has been shown, really springs from a properly 
fertilized seed, and although the process is effected on such 
a minute scale as to need a microscope to examine it, the 
fertilization of this seed is effected in practically the same 
way as that of the seed of a flower, the chief difference 
being that the seed is embedded in the substance of the 
scale, and germinates in situ instead of being detached and 
shed to germinate elsewhere. If we reverse one of the 
little scales aforesaid and examine it with a fairly good lens 
we shall find on its under surface, like so many tiny pimples 
scattered about among the root-hairs, a number of little 
round projections (antheridia) and close to the indentation 
of the heart on a sort of thickened cushion we shall see a 
small cluster of larger and] longer hollow projections 
(archegonia). At the base of each of these, deeply em- 
bedded in the cushion aforesaid, is an embryo seed. At 
the proper time, when under moist conditions the underside 
of the scale is bathed in dewlike moisture, the little pimples 
burst and send out a cloud of very minute organisms termed 
antherozoids, which are provided with movable hairs or 
cilia, by means of which they swim actively about in the 
water and make their way towards the cluster of larger pro- 
jections, traversing which they fertilize the seed at their base, 
precisely in the same way as pollen fertilizes the seed of 
flowering plants. This done, the seed perfects itself, and 
eventually breaking through the lower part of the cushion 
roots into the soil and sends up its first frond with a bud at 
its base, and in this way a second generation of Ferns is 
produced. From this it is seen that, after all, flowers are 
practically borne by Ferns, but on a microscopic scale. 
We may also gain a practical lesson from this, as it shews 


lO 

how moist conditions are essential to successful spore 
propagation, especially at the critical period when fertiliza- 
tion should occur. This is the normal life cycle of all 
Ferns, but, thanks to careful study of the varietal forms, it 
has been found that Nature has not only endowed Ferns 
with a capacity to sport as far as outward appearance and 
structure go, but that every conceivable variation of this 
life cycle occurs. Normally, the succession is Fern, spore, 
antheridia, archegonia, embryo seed and Fern again ; but it 
has been proved that reproduction can take place, leaving 
out every one of these stages either singly or even in the 
lump, including the apparent paradox, the very Fern itself. 
In the variant known as Apospory, the fern cuts out the 
spore by forming the green scale direct.on its fronds, in that 
known as Apogamy the embryo seed and its adjuncts are 
omitted, the young fern appearing as a bud on the scale. 
In such ferns as are bulbiferous, bearing young plants on 
the fronds, the scale and all intermediate stages are, of 
course, left out, while the final apparent paradox is solved 
by the fact observed by Dr. Lang that the scale itself was 
capable of producing spores direct, and, of course, if these 
spores inherited that capacity, the Fern as we know it 
would be omitted altogether, and only generation after 
generation of the scale stage would exist. It will be seen 
from these data that the cross fertilization of Ferns cannot 
be conducted on the same sure and scientific lines as that 
of flowers. With flowers we can take precaution against 
self fertilization, and we can easily transfer what pollen we 
will from one flower to a different one and be fairly certain 
what pairs are united. With ferns, on the other hand, in 
which self fertilization must be the rule and crossing a rare 
accident, we cannot possibly either handle the pollen 
equivalents or be sure that fertilization has not already 
occurred. All we can do is to sow the two kinds of spores 
together somewhat closely, or bring pairs of young prothalli 
from dift'erent sowings into close juxtaposition before 
maturity, flooding them then from time to time on the 
chance that the roving antherozoids may thus be carried 


1 1 

from one prothallus to another and thus effect the desired 
object. That cross fertilization does occur is abundantly 
demonstrated by the existence of ferns in which two 
distinct parental characters are united. The charming 
lattice work and tassels of A. f.f. Victovae have thus, for 
instance, been allied with the bristly character of A. f.f. 
setigevum, and it is noteworthy that the spores of the 
joint offspring reproduce the joint type truly and freely. 

C. T. D. 


FERN HUNTING EPISODES. 

Although Fern hunting expeditions hardly belong to the 
very risky or adventurous category, since the ''quarry" 
however "wild" is never aggressive, it occasionally contrives 
its best to baffle acquisition, and doubtless every *' hunter " 
could relate anecdotes connected with difficulties of this 
kind. Several years ago, while out hunting in the Barn- 
staple district, I came to a low parapeted stone bridge 
spanning a mill leat with a very rapid stream. About 
7 or 8 feet down, near the crown of the arch, was a very 
pretty spiral Hartstongue growing in a chink in the masonry. 
I could just reach it with my stick, but if I dislodged it, it 
would inevitably fall into the water and be swept away, as 
the stream itself was not only swift but inaccessible. 
Happily, the day being dull, I had my umbrella with me 
and opening this I suspended it by a string below the arch 
and subsequently managed to tickle the fern out of its 
retreat with the extreme point of my trowel, until it fell 
into the " brolly " and was promptly bagged fairly intact. 

A somewhat similar case recently confronted me in the 
Totnes district, but a far more baffling one. Here it was a 
clump of a very pretty Polypodinm vulgare with regular 
roundly-lobed pinnae, a form new^ to me. This w^as em- 
bedded in a chink so low down that I could only just 
reach it with the top of my walking stick. The river Dart 
ran below, but even had I an umbrella, which I had not, 
the above plan of suspension would not have fitted, since 
the fern was growing within a few inches of a buttress 


12 

projecting at right angles, which would have left a large 
gap between umbrella and wall, precisely beneath the fern. 
Here was a puzzle, but determined not to go away minus 
the fern, I cogitated for a while, and then being provided 
with a ball of string, an indispensable part of a fern-hunting 
outfit, I made a loose slip knot and coaxing this over the 
fronds with the tip of my stick I managed to draw it tight 
and lasso them. This done I lashed my open penknife (the 
trowel was unavailable) to the stick, and leaning over cut 
out a good piece of the embedded rhizome until the fern 
swung out loose at the end of the string, which was then 
drawn up and the prize bagged. 

Last Christmas, near Torquay, I noted a very fine 
crested Hartstongue about lo or 12 feet up a high wall, 
quite out of reach — another puzzle, a country road and not 
a soul in sight. Presently, however, when almost in 
despair, I espied a lad in the distance, and, managing to 
attract his attention, I hoisted him on to my shoulders and 
under my instructions he managed to dislodge enough of 
the caudex, despite its being tightly frozen in, for me to 
establish a plant with, now a pretty specimen. I may 
mention that in both these last cases, sufficient of the 
fern was left for it to re-establish itself, only part being 
taken. The acquisition of a fern, even when found under 
easily accessible conditions, is not always without difficulty. 

Last year I found a full-size Polystichnm angtdave, near 
Seaton Junction, in a hedge bottom, and as it presented a 
very marked abnormal character, I determined to get it. 
To do so, however, I had to lie down and almost bury 
myself in the hedge, the caudex being far back and wedged 
so tight between the tree roots there that my trowel could 
do nothing, and my only way of acquiring was to pull it out 
by main force. Hence was presented the curious spectacle 
of an individual with his head and shoulders half-way 
through the hedge and his legs kicking wildly about outside 
it. Result, a gentleman came riding by on horseback, I heard 
him trot past and then stop and return, by which time I 
had wrenched my prize free and extricated my head suffi- 


13 

ciently to hear him ask whether I was hurt, since he had 
imagined that I must be struggling in mortal agony and 
had come back to see if he could assist me. Thanking him 
for his kindness and releiving his mind by an explanation, 
we bade each other good e\'ening, he rode on and I pro- 
ceeded to shoulder my booty and return to my temporary 
nest. 

As a rule the acquisition of a new find consists merely in 
digging it up, extricating it from its common associates and 
packing it in paper, adding moss or grass, or something of 
that kind, damped if possible, to preserve its freshness, 
since I have great faith in preventing an acquisition from 
getting dry, so much vitality is lost if this precaution be 
neglected. It may, however, happen that the find is an old- 
established mass of so unwieldly a nature as to require 
assistance. A case of this kind stands out vividly in my 
memory as I write. One Sunday morning, leaving my fern 
trow^el religiously behind me to secure me from tempta- 
tion, I came to a brook on the edge of Dartmoor with 
sloping banks, dotted here and there with clumps of 
Lastvea montana, seen from an elevated path. Scanning 
these clumps, one of them, some 20 yards away at the edge 
of the brook strikes me as "funny-looking," something odd 
and unlike the rest. Walking rapidly down the slope closer 
investigation reveals that I have found a most beautifully 
tasselled and slender growing variety, a gem of the first 
water. (L. montana cvistato-gvacile, Dvuevy.) The clump 
however, is about a yard through, a dense mass of 
many crowms, altogether unportable ; what is to be done ? 
Carefully noting the surroundings and putting a frond into 
my hat to show to my better half, staying in the adjacent 
village, I return, but can hardly persuade her that I have 
made such a discovery until later in the day we return to 
the spot and she finds it again in proof of my sincerity. 
The next morning I engage a man, with a stout fork, to 
assist me in lifting the plant, but neither he nor 1 can move 
it until a quarry cart and driver coming along, we enlist 
their services and eventually lift en masse i^ cwts. of fern 


14 

and soil and drive it triumphantly into the village, dumping 
the mass into a huge hamper secured for the purpose, in 
which it eventually reached London. Dissected, it proved 
to have no less than 33 crowns, a number of which were 
at once distributed far and wide among fern-loving friends. 
Finds of such magnitude and quality are rare indeed, but 
the chance of such discoveries always exists, especially in 
unfrequented districts. Perhaps the most portentous Fern- 
hunting episode in my memory is one which I escaped. 

Hunting in the vicinity of Campsie, N.B., I found close 
to the railway a very distinct form of Lastrea dilatata 
(L. d. stipitato laciniata) about noon, and took the train from 
Campsie Station back to Strathblane between 12 and i. 
About 2 a cloud-burst struck the very spot I had been 
hunting, and washed the line away for hundreds of yards, a 
fortunate escape indeed, and I was glad the " waterspout " 
had not '' found " me. C. T. D. 


WILD SPORTS IN BRITISH FERNS. 

[Abstract of Lectuve delivered to the Royal Horticultural 

Society.) 

If we study the literature of plant variation and especially 
the references thereto in technical botanical works, we 
cannot, in default of better knowledge, fail to derive the 
impression that what are termed " monstrosities " by some, 
and "distinct sports" by others are in some occult way 
due to cultural influences. The very term"garden varieties," 
so often used in this connection, permits of no other inter- 
pretation, especially when we consider that, until very 
recently, the plants to which botanists applied this term were, 
as a consequence, entirely excluded from purely botanical 
study. They were dubbed " monstrosities," and regarded 
in much the same way as most of us regard those terrible 
things which may be seen at the Museum of the 
College of Surgeons, and in similar collections. In the 
case of most plants the varieties which we see in cultivation 
and which form the bulk of our floral exhibitions, have 


15 

reached their present stage of development by long con- 
tinued selection, generally by a considerable number of 
breeders and consequent accumulation on diverse lines of 
those small individual difierences which characterize seed- 
lings. These differences being transmitted by inheritance, 
and occasionally enhanced by what may be termed minor 
sports, amounting eventually to such a transformation that 
no outsider would impute them to their original parents. 
As this accumulation of character occurs entirely under 
culture, we may justifiably term the plants so obtained 
" garden varieties." We may equally justly apply the term 
to another large section of floricultural exhibits obtained by 
hybridization, since in both cases the types are due to 
human agency, controlling in certain directions the innate 
tendency to variation in the one case and the power of 
combination in the other case, while protecting the result- 
ing plants from that purely natural selection which would 
probably result in the destruction of most of them. As a 
consequence of so much divergence of type being brought 
about by these selective and combining operations in culti- 
vators' hands, the opinion has gradually been strengthened 
that it is culture which is the cause of the variability 
displayed, more especially as the behaviour of purely wild 
plants under purely natural conditions is comparatively 
little studied and practically (with one exception) not at all 
by cultivators for the market so as to admit of a proper 
comparison of the two plant sections, viz. the wild and the 
cultivated, as regards their relative variability. The one 
exception exists in the case of our native wild Ferns, 
which have now been my special study for over a quarter of 
a century, and which represent absolutely the only group 
of genera and species which, in their purely wild state, have 
been subjected to singularly close scrutiny by a consider- 
able number of skilled observers for over half a century. 
These observers have devoted their attention to the dis- 
covery among wild plants of ''sports," or markedly 
distinct abnormal forms, and, thanks to a few of the most 
prominent ones, a constant record has been kept of their 


i6 

finds and those of others, and although this record also 
embraces a number of varieties subsequently improved in 
type by selection of the progeny of the wild finds, those 
raised are always so described, and cannot be confused 
with the wild finds themselves. Moreover, and this as 
another material point, the plants have invariably been 
collected as living plants, and not merely as herbarium 
materia], and having been carefully preserved and multi- 
plied by off-sets and bulbils, the bulk of them are still 
existent in British Fern collections. It is also worthy of 
note that although all our native species, without exception, 
are also indigenous to other temperate countries, and some 
of them almost ubiquitous, this particular study has almost 
exclusively been confined to the British Isles, and the 
specimens extant are, therefore, with but a few exceptions, 
truly British wild plants. We have, therefore; an immense 
mass of purely unsophisticated material to deal with in 
considering the comparative variability of this section of 
plant life under wild and cultural conditions, while the 
records are incontestible as regards their wild origin, and 
in this particular connection are of the greater value, as 
they were not compiled with any view to establish a theory 
of variation, and are, therefore, quite unbiassed. The latest 
and most complete record of this kind is found in the 
late ^Ir. E. J. Lowes' "British Ferns," 1891, published 
by Swan, Sonnenschein & Co. This is a descriptive list, 
giving the date and locality of the discoveries, and the 
names of the finders, together with enhanced types raised 
by selection, these being marked " raised," with the raiser's 
name. It is noteworthy that these latter are, in every case, 
of similar type to the wild parent, though this may be as it 
were emphasized, i.e. more marked. For a really new type 
we have invariably to look to the wild fern. This fact, 
ripely considered, goes far to prove greater variability 
under wild conditions than under culture, instead of the 
generally accepted converse case. We may now come to 
the consideration of how far this fifty year record demon- 
strates the proportion of wild sports to those which may be 


regarded as " garden varieties'' proper, and on analysis of 
the list we find that no less than 1,360, out of a total list of 
1,717, originated in a wild state, i.e. 1,360 as against 357. 
In this connection it may be argued that a far greater 
number of variations may have occurred under culture, 
but that owing to their inferiority they have not been 
recorded. This is perfectly true, but is fully counter- 
balanced by the fact that the record of wild sports is 
subject to the same observation, since it only embraces 
what the fern hunter considers to be acquisitions, and 
ignores a vast number of inferior and defective " sports," 
which, from the biological point of view, are fully as 
interesting as the others, and equally affect the question 
of comparative variability. I have heard it mooted that 
the immense number of "sports" found in the British 
Isles, as compared with other parts of world where 
ferns are plentiful, may be partly due to escaped spores 
from the various collections scattered about the country, 
but this idea, for several reasons, cannot be substantiated. 
Wild sports, as a rule, have an independent individual 
character of their own, and it is comparatively seldom 
that more than one of precisely the same type has been 
separately found, while escaped seedlings are easily 
recogni/ied as such by the experts. For instance, in 
a wood near Levens, in the Lake District, the gardener 
at Levens Hall, Mr. Craig, who was also a fern collector, 
scattered a great number of spores from abnormal ferns in 
his collection. Even to the present day, examples crop up 
in that wood. A few years back I went through it myself 
and found several, but in every case I could at once name 
the parent, and even had I not known the fact of the 
sowing, I should have suspected it from the identity of 
the types with those I am acquainted with. On the 
other hand, I have hunted many localities, and found a 
good many varieties under conditions where strays were 
practically impossible, on hillsides and in glens, and by 
the roadsides, and on the moors, Dartmoor and Exmoor, 
far remote from any known collections, and in no case 


i8 

has there been a family likeness to previous finds as in the 
case above cited. I doubt, furthermore, very much if fern 
spores travel very far from their place of origin, except 
perhaps by water agency. The spores, small though they 
be, are dense and heavy, and though countless millions 
may be annually shed, very few indeed reach the stage of 
lern production, while many varieties, though fertile and 
constant in their progeny, certainly are not so robust as 
the normals, and would consequently be greatly handi- 
capped as strays in their infant stages. This is furthermore 
evidenced by rarity of varietal colonies, the finds being 
generally solitary. For these reasons, therefore, I cannot 
accept the theory aforesaid, that the number of wild sports 
has been augmented by " escapes." All experienced fern 
hunters seek the most remote localities, and it is mainly in 
such that the " sports " recorded have been discovered. 
This fact also disposes of the idea that artificial conditions 
of any kind contribute to variability, or that change of 
environment underlies it. Many of the most marked 
forms have originated under conditions which must have 
been identical for centuries and tens of centuries. They 
are, moreover, when found, so closely associated or even 
intermingled with the abundant normals that their actual 
environment, aerial and terrestrial, is identical, so that it is 
impossible to conceive a reason why Nature should have, 
at one stroke, endowed them with such different styles of 
structure or even different reproductive characters, as in 
the aposporous ferns, plus the capacity of reproducing 
themselves as truly and constantly as any species does. 


PERSONAL FERN FINDS. 

As, apart from the supreme incentive, viz. actual finds 
of good varieties by himself or herself, nothing tends more 

'■'■'- As many good fern finds have been discovered by ladies, for whom 
the cult is peculiarly fitted, we should like to impress upon them the 
fact that when we speak generally of hunters, finders, or raisers, or 
write 'he" or •' him," as the case may be in the general sense, the fair 
sex is always by implication included. 


19 

to encourage the budding fern student and fern hunter or 
hunters than a definite knowledge of what has been effected 
in the way of successful hunting. We propose in this and 
subsequent issues of the "British Fern Gazette" to give 
lists of recognized "sports," together with any interesting 
data relating to their discovery, such lists being compiled 
by the discoverers themselves. The editor would therefore 
be glad to receive such data, but would ask his corre- 
spondents to confine their records for publication to really 
distinct and constant forms, ignoring such as are merely 
curious and irregular, and therefore outside the scope of 
those eligible varieties to which, in these days of abundant 
good material, it is desirable to confine attention. Such 
lists may also naturally embrace improved forms raised 
from spores, and if such can be accompanied by good 
photographs so much the better. As far as possible the 
parent should be specified, or both parents if cross 
fertilization has been successfully achieved. By way of 
a start I (in this case I am forced to use the first person 
singular) give the following list of my own finds with 
localities, appending thereto a few notes regarding special 
varieties which I have raised, since these figure both 
largely and strikingly in my collection. 

Original Finds. 
Athyrium filix fcemina. 

A. f.f. revolvens. Strathblane. Fronds rolled nearly into 

tubes. 
A. f.f. cristatum Kilrushense. Kilrush. Fine pendulous 

tassels ; by far the best wild cristatum found. 
A. f.f. oreopteroides. Devon. Fronds resemble L. nion- 

tana. 
A. f.f. Camserniense. Camsernie. Fronds resemble L. 

montana, pinnae imhvicate. 
A. f.f. medio deficiens. Innerwell, N.B. Centre of 

frond and pinnae open. 
A. f.f. medio deficiens. Strathblane. Centre of frond 

open. 


20 

A. f.l. medio deficiens. Kendal. Centre of frond open. 
A. f.f. deltoideum. Strathblane. Basal pinnae wide, fronds 

revolved. 
A. f.f. cruciatum. Loxhore. Apex of frond and pinnae 

cruciate. 

SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE. 

S. V. spirale. Clovelly. Small ; very leathery fronds. 

S. V. spirale. Ottery St. Mary. Thinner in texture. 

S. V. spirale. Chelfham. Robuster than Clovelly find, 

very thick. 
S. V. transverse lobatum. Sidford. Roadside. 
S. V. transverse lobatum. Colyton. Bank of brook in a 

tree root. 
S. V. ramo cristatum. Guernsey. Ramo cristate form ; 

wall of bridge over stream. 
S. V. corymbiferum. Sidmouth. Fine bunch-crested 

form, in hedge. 
S. V. angustato lobatum. Near Clieveden. Very long, 

narrow fronds, digitate ends. 
S. V. marginatum. Several places. 
S. V. sublineatum. Penrhyn. Thick leathery fronds, 

curved tips, row of serrate points beneath, both sides 
/ midrib. 
S. V. fissum. Camelford. On wall; very neat, fronds 

thick. 
S. V. serratum. Falmouth. Pretty viavginate form ; retain- 
ing wall of garden in street, small leathery fronds. 
S. V. cristatum. Penrhyn. Fan-like crest. 
S. V. cristatum. Penrhyn. Bunch crest; churchyard 

wall. 
S. V. angustatum. Penrhyn. Developed fiat crests under 

culture. (?) if constant. Churchyard. Not crested 

when found, only narrow. 
S. V. ramoso-cristatum Druery. Penrhyn. Developed 

very finely, fronds branch into distinctly stalked ones, 

each neatly crested. One tiny frond in hedge bank. 
S. V. ramosum. Babbacombe. Cottage garden wall. 


21 

S. V. folioso cristatum. Babbacombe. Wall in street 

byevvay. (?) A grandiceps, veins much netted. 
S. V. ramo multifidum. Babbacombe. On high wall, 

fronds resembling stag horns, but under culture 

more foliose, very good. Proliferous. 
S. V. ramosum. Babbacombe. Found as tiny seedHng, 

two fronds broadly twinned, subsequent fronds 

ramose 
S. V. muricatum. Colyton. Surface well muricated up 

centre 
S. V. variegatum, Colyton. Light green, streaked with 

darker stripes. 
S. V. variegatum. Staverton. Rich orange-yellow fronds, 

some mottled green and yellow. 
S. V. latum. Colyton. Very wide, 4^ inches, found 

alongside normal in hedge bank. 
S. V. subcontractum. Colyton. Cordate base usually 

contracted. 
S. V, contractum. Colyton. Base narrowed for some 

distance up. 
S. V. gymnosorum. Kilrush. Narrow form, spores 

without indusium, irregularly scattered on surface. 
S. V. ramo cristatum. Staverton, igog. Fronds branched 

and crested, here and there marginate. 

Lastrea Dilatata. 

L. d. stipitato-laciniata. Campsie. Pinnae and pinnules 

long stalked and laciniated. 
L. d. cristata. Clovelly. All terminals crested. 

Lastrea filix mas. 

L. f. m. mediodeficiens. Aberfeldy. Centre of frond 

open. 
L. f. m. cristata. Kilrush. Crested, defective a /^/^ms//. 
L. f. m. polydactyla Grougarense. Grougar, N.B. Well 

tasselled. 

Lastrea pseudo mas. 
L. p. mi. gracile. Loxhore. Slender form. 


22 
LaSTREA MONTANA. 

L. m. cristato-gracile. Sticklepath. Slender fronds and 

crests. 
L, m. congesta. Aberfeldy. Congested. 
L. m. truncata. Several places. All tips squared and 

thorned. 
L. m. plumosa. Kendal. Good plumose form. 

POLYSTICHUM ANGULARE 

P. ang. revolvens. Colyton. Very good tubular form. 
P. ang. cristulum. Colyton. Very minute crests at 

points of frond and pinnae. 
P. ang. caudatum. Minehead. Upper half of frond 

much narrowed. 

POLYPODIUM VULGARE. 

p. V. macrosorum. Minehead. Wide sub-bipinnate 

fronds, sori very large and abundant. 
P. V. longipinnatum. Killarney. Very long attenuate 

pinnae 
P. V. bipinnatum. Chepstow. Bipinnate. 

P. V. bifido foliosum. Colyton. Bi and trifid and foliose. 

P. V. crenatum. Milnthorpe. Crenate. 

P. V. obtuso crenatim. Staverton, 1909. Round lobed 

pinnae, here and there truncate and thorned. 
P. V. bifido deltoideum. Devon. Basal lobes bifid and 

very large. 
P. V. sub-cambricum. (?). Glastonbury. Foliose form, 

bipinnate. 
P. V. adpresso-bilidum. Colyton. Bifid and pinnae 

turned inwards towards midrib. 

ASPLENIUM. 

Asp. trichomanes cristatum. Holne. Fronds crested. 
Asp. trichomanes cristatum. Loxhore. Fronds crested. 
Asp. adiantum nigrum lineare. Penrhyn. Fronds 

very slender and long. 
Asp. adiantum nigrum caudifolium Dartmoor. 

Dwarf llat-growing form, with linear pinnae yellow 

lobed. 


23 

Blechnum spicant. 

B. s. concinnum. Druery. Exmoor. Fronds narrow and 

of uniform width, lobes like small scallop shells, 

unique. 
B. s. subconfluens. Several places. Pinnae confluent 

near frond tips. 
B. s. polydactylum. Wooda Bay. Fronds divided at 

tips. 
B. s. polydactylum. Colyton. Fronds divided at tips. 
B. s. strictum. Camelford. Pinna:; serrate, good form. 
B. s. strictum. Dartmoor. Pinnae serrate, good form. 
B. s. contractum. Dartmoor. Lower pinnae short and 

serrate. 
B. s. rotundatum. Aberfeldy. Fronds narrow, almost 
linear, with pinnae as round lobes. 

Specialities Raised. 

A. f.f. plumosum. superbum. Druery. Raised from spores 

of A . /./. plumosiim elegans Parsons, raised from 
Axminstcv pUimosiim, wild find, fronds very plumose 
and finely crested, although parent quite devoid of 
crest. 
A. f.f. plumosum Druery. Raised from A . f.f .p. supcvhnm 
Dvnciy, a magnificent form; nothing to compare to it. 
A. f.f. plumosum superbum \ All sister plants to the last, 
percristatum Druery. i.e. from same batch of 

A. f.f. kalon [spores; all -crested to third 

A. f.f. grandiceps - - - - j or fourth degree. 
A. f.f. dissectum . . . .\ 

A. f.f. foliosum !- Same batch, but uncrested. 

A. f.f. plumosissimum - -J 

There are some half-dozen others of equal merit but 
unnamed, the whole batch being most remarkable and 
forming an easily recognizable section even in their off- 
spring, of which a great number have been raised from 
spores and bulbils which some of them produce on the 
frond backs in conjunction with the spores. This is 
inherited from the Axminster progenitor. 


24 

Polystichum aculeatum pulcherrimum Druery. 
„ „ gracillimum. 

The above, with a number of others, represents a most 
remarkable new section of Shield Ferns raised jointly by 
Mr. C. B. Green, of Acton, and myself. In some of these 
the sub-divisions of the frond, only i inch long in the 
parents, are as much as 3 inches in length, with splayed 
tassel-like terminals. No two are precisely alike, and one 
of Mr. Green's batch resembles the densum section of P. 
angnlave, being tripinnate and dense. The parent, P. acul. 
pnlchcrvwmm , was found nearly 40 years ago in Dorset, and 
has reputedly borne no spores until a few were found from 
which this wonderful batch arose in conjunction with a 
number of the parental type and a few reversions strongly 
resembling P. angnlare. 

ScoL V. Sagittato grandiceps. 
This fern is a very curious one. Its parent was a wild 
find by Mr. J. Williams, St. Austell, who sent me for 
inspection a frond taken from the plant when found. It 
was merely a normal, with divided frond tips of the 
lobatum type, plus an arrow-shaped base with fanned tips. 
The spores sown from this, however, yielded, amid a batch 
of more or less common ones or of the parental type, nine 
plants, in which the whole of the blade of the frond was 
suppressed, while the divided tips of the basal lobes and 
the frond tips were transformed into 3 dense bunches close 
set together, forming as a rule a triple bunch surmounting 
a bare stalk. The fronds are also sparsely viviparous, 
bulbils appearing on the surface. It will be noted that 
these originated from wild spores and not after cultivation ; 
a peculiar instance of how great a -varietal jump may occur 
under purely natural conditions in the potencies of the spores. 

A. F.F. Kalothrix cristatum. 
This is a well crested form of the beautiful A. f.f. 
Kalothrix, which appeared spontaneously in a sowing of my 
own " superbum " section, no less than 7 plants originating 
from one prothallus. So far it has remained very dwarf, 
persisting in forming little tufts by lateral ofT-sets instead of 
a larger single crowri. C. T. D. 


= FERNS. ^= 

* * * 

H. B. MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sizes, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

* * * 

stove, 6rccitl)ou$e, and oilxr Planls 
. . .arc also largcli? grown. . . . 

* ^ * 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants can be had post free 
upon application to — 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDMONTON. 


VOL. 1. No. 2. 


. . . Zbc . . . 


JBritieb fcvn 
(Ba3ette» 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


December, 1909. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., FX.S. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Secretary: Mr. G. WHIT WELL, Serpentine Cottage), 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


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THE 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 


Vol. I. 


DECEMBER, 1909. 


No. 2. 


CONTENTS. 

Editorial Note .. .. 

Our Frontispiece .. 

Spore Propagation .. 

Personal Finds — Mr. G. Whitwell's 

FOLYPODIUM VuLGARE 

POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM AND ANGULARE — Dr. F. W 

Stansfield 
Fern Hunting in Winter 
The Hybridization of Ferns 
Pioneers of the Fern Cult — Dr. F. W. Stansfield 


PAGE. 

25 
26 

26 


29 


34 

38 
40 

41 
43 


EDITORIAL NOTE. 

The Editor is happy in this number to be able to include 
contributions from other fern lovers and students, and to 
be thus relieved from a too prominent position in the pages 
of the " Gazette," unavoidable in the primary issue, as the 
" Gazette" is intended to be the medium of commiunication 
between all lovers of British ferns. He cordially invites 
contributions of any notes of mutual interest or enquiries 
in that connection. An exchange column has been 
suggested, and the necessary material being sent in by 
members, its gratis insertion will form one. It is to be 
hoped that the members will do their best to increase the 
membership of the Society, already largely augmented 
by the issue of the " Gazette." It may be well to mention 
that a supply of the "Gazette" will be reserved for the 
benefit of such members as may join subsequent to 
publication, so that their subscription of five shillings 
(payable either to Mr. Whitwell, the Secretary, or to the 
Editor), covering the year between iVugust, 1909, and 


26 

August, 1910, will entitle them to all four of the quarterly 
issues. 

A copy of the " Gazette " will be willingly sent to any 
one likely to become a member. All communications, 
MSS., etc., concerning the " Gazette" should be addressed 
direct to the Editor, 11, Shaa Road, Acton, London, W. 

Editor. 

OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

This represents a very beautiful plumose form of Lastvea 
montana, respecting which the finder. Dr. F. W. Stansfield, 
furnishes the following note : — 

On July 27th, igo8, I found near Nevin, Carnarvonshire, 
a first-rate plumose Lastvea montana, which appears to be 
quite distinct from other plumose forms of this species. It 
is perfectly symmetrical and thoroughbred in character, 
and, although perhaps less finely dissected than Mr. 
Whitwell's find, is probably more foliose than any other 
plumose form yet known. The pinnules are deeply incised, 
but the lobes are broad and rounded, which causes them to 
overlap each other very much, and are, moreover, curved 
forward and undulated at their margins, so as to produce 
a very charming, crispy effect in the fresh frond, which is 
quite lost in a pressed one. The plant is, so far, quite 
barren, and has only a single crown, so that it will be 
some time before it can be propagated to any extent. It 
has not yet attained full development, and will probably 
show yet finer character when mature. 

F. W. Stansfield. 

Reading, Nov. 5th, 1909. 


SPORE PROPAGATION. 

Naturally, the first desire of a successful fern hunter is 
not merely to secure the individual existence of his find, 
but to multiply it, and, if possible, improve its particular 
character by virtue of that general tendency to vary in 
the offspring, which is inherent in all abnormal sports. 
Although thoroughbred types breed true as a rule, their 


27 

offspring displaying the same characters as their parents, 
it frequently happens that examples present themselves 
in which these characters are emphasized, as it were, 
constituting in many cases great improvement and en- 
hancement ot their beauty. Thus normally pinnate ferns, 
divided but once, like Blcchnum spicant, having sported 
naturally into deeply serrate forms, the offspring of these 
have gone farther, and, by exaggerating the serration, 
yielded through their spores bipinnate or even nearly 
tripinnate varieties, and this may be taken as an example 
of possible variation with bipinnate normal forms, which 
may yield from somewhat more divided sports, tripinnate 
or even quadripinnate progeny of great beauty. This has 
happened with PolysticJmm angtdare, in the case of the lovely 
Jones and Fox section of divisilobe plumoswns, of which a 
batch arose in a sowing of merely '* decompositum " spores. 
Now, inasmuch as propagation by bulbils or offsets very 
rarely results in anything but multiplication of the parental 
form on exact lines, it is clear that if we want to improve, 
we must have recourse to the spore. In this connection, 
perfectly barren ferns are very few compared with fertile 
ones, and although spore production certainly diminishes 
as frond dissection increases, and thus in the most plumose 
forms is reduced to a minimum, as a rule careful inspection 
reveals that spores occur here and there, even perhaps as 
minute clusters of two or three sporangia, or spore pods, 
which the naked eye can hardly detect. A single pod, 
however, is capable of yielding some thirty or forty plants, 
so that even an all but sterile fern produces quite enough 
progeny for any amateur to deal with. In such cases our 
own plan is to carefully cut off the pinnules bearing such 
pods, and lay them back downwards on a glass slip, such 
as is used for microscopic objects. Placing this a few 
hours later under the microscope, the pods will be found to 
have burst, and the spores will be scattered over the glass 
in their vicinity. By doing this, the confidence is acquired 
that the variety is really sown, and that with proper care a 
crop may be expected. 


28 

A few ferns are really barren, though producing ap- 
parent spores in abundance, Asp. trichomanes confltiens to 
wit, and the futility of sowing is seen at once on the micro- 
scopic field, the assumed spores being seen as mere brown 
snuffy dust and not as the regular little egg-shaped bodies 
which perfect spores display. With thoroughly fertile ferns 
the spores are so abundant that it is advisable to treat as 
above but a very minute portion of a frond so that this abund- 
ance may be fairly grasped, and also the absurdity of sowing 
a score of thousands in a pot or pan scarcely capable of 
accommodating as many hundreds. 

It is a common practice to lay down an entire frond on 
smooth paper, upon which the spores are shed in a few 
hours so thickly as to produce a sort of brown replica of 
the frond itself, such replica consisting of millions of spores, 
and this, in the amateur's hands, constitutes a temptation 
to sow too thickly, often with failure as a result, very thin 
sowing alone giving the infant ferns a fair chance. 

With these warnings we may now describe the actual 
sowing. In order that the spores may not be upset by 
intrusive worms or handicapped by spores of mosses and 
confervae we fill a well-drained pot or pan with good fern 
compost of loam leaf-mould and sand (2, 2 and i), and, 
topping this with a few crumbs of the loam, we scald it 
thoroughly with boiling water. Letting it cool, the spores 
are scattered thinly and evenly over the surface. The pot is 
then covered with a glass slip and put away in a cool well- 
lighted Wardian case or greenhouse, out of direct sunshine, 
and left severely alone. To prevent drying out, it may 
stand in a saucer in which a little water may be kept. 
Since a very small thimble or thumb-pot suffices for a fair 
number of plants, a capital plan, where several sowings are 
concerned, is to fill a square pan with cocoanut fibre and 
pack the little pots, after sowing, in this, covering the lot 
with one pane of glass. In this way the risk of drying out 
is minimized, since it is only necessary to keep the fibre 
moist. No water must be given overhead until the soil is 
covered with the green growth produced from the spores. 


29 

When these are full size, about as large as herring scales, 
tepid water overhead may help fertilization. Each sowing 
should be numbered and registered in a book kept for that 
purpose. Cross fertilization may possibly be effected by 
sowing two varieties together on the off-chance, but self- 
fertilization is the rule. 


PERSONAL FINDS 

BY 

Mr. G. WHITWELL, 

Secretary of the British Pteridological Society. 

Mr. George Whitwell, for many years Secretary to our 
Society, has been an assiduous Fern hunter in the Lake 
District for about forty years, and has very kindly provided 
the following list of his discoveries, with, in many cases, 
indications of aspect, soil, and other data of interest both to 
the fern hunter and cultivator. 

Lastrea Montana. 

Name. Where Found. Aspect. 

angustifrons Patter dale .- North 

Remarks. — Fronds erect and very narrow, gravelly soil, low 
down on the hill side, whinstone rock, not many normals ; 
there would be about forty or fifty crowns altogether. 

angustata Langdale ... ... N.E. 

Remarks. — Very narrow and erect, gravelly soil, a good 
height up on the hill side, whinstone rock, two crowns-, 
plenty of normals. 

breviloba Kentmere N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnules evenly reduced, strong loam, whinstone 
rock, not many plants, a good many normals. 

cristata Frostrow N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnae and fronds crested, strong loam, whinstone 
rock, low down on the hill side ; there would be over loo 
plants scattered about amongst normals, species not so 
plentiful. 

curvata Garsdale N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnae curved downwards, dry stony hillside, 
whinstone rock. When I found my first plants in 1883 
there were a good many plants amongst normals ; species 
fairly plentiful. I have also found other two good forms, 
one which I consider the best of the type. Also found 

in Eskdale and Rydale. 

f 

B 


1 


o 


Name. Where Found. Aspect. 

crispata Garsdale N.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds crispate, pinnae undulated and crispy, 
strong loam, whinstone rock, low down the hill side, one 
plant with five or six crowns, species plentiful. 

caudata Kentmere N.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds and pinnae very caudate, strong loam, 
whinstone rock, steep hillside, only a few plants, all 
growing together, species plentiful. 

crispa Kentmere 

congesta Dent N.E. 

Remarks. — Frond and pinnae congested, strong loam, whin- 
stone rock, high on the hillside, two crowns, not many 
normals. 

deficiens Whitwell ... Longsleddale ... N.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds defective, a strange-looking plant, stony 
soil, whinstone rock, high on the hillside, about 20 plants 
altogether, not many of the species. 

furcillata Brotherswater ... N.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds and pinnae furcillate, strong loam, whin- 
stone rock, only a few crowns amongst normals, species 
plentiful. 

ingeqnalis acutiloba Cautley ... ... N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnae uneven, acute, strong loam, whinstone 
rock, only three or four crowns all together, species 
fairly plentiful in the valley. 

insequalis confluens ... Cautley ... ... N.W. 

Remarks. — Pinnules unequal and confluent, gravelly soil, 
whinstone rock, high on the hillside, only one plant, 
species plentiful. 

inseciualis extensa ... Hartsop ... ... N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnules very much reduced, strong loam, whin- 
stone rock, high on the hillside, only a few crowns mixed 
with normals. 

interrupta Brotherswater ... N.W. 

Remarks. — Pinnules much reduced, strong loam, whinstone 
rock, high on the hillside, a good many plants all 
together, species not so plentiful about. 

interrupta rugosa ... Coniston N.E. 

Remarks. — Frond interrupted and rugose, strong loam, 
whinstone rock, only two plants, a fair amount of 
normals, low down on the hillside. 


31 

Name. Where Found. Aspect. 

latifolia Cautley N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnules broad, overlapping, strong loam, whin- 
stone rock, only a few plants, low down in the valby, 
not many of the species. 

multiformis Garsdale N.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds many forms, strong grower, strong loam, 
whinstone rock, low down in the valley, only one plant, 
amongst plenty of normals. 

multifurcata Coniston N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnae many times forked, frond not forked, 
strong loam, whinstone rock, only a few plants scattered 
about amongst normals. 

pr3em.orsa ... Potterfell S.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnae marginate, strong loam, whinstone rock, 
not so many plants, about 20 or 30 scattered about 
amongst normals. 

pterophora Little Langdale ... N.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds erect and rather narrow, pinnules 
crowded, strong loam, whinstone rock, only two plants 
amongst normals, species plentiful. 

Var. plumosaWhitwell ... Potterfell S.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds finely cut, foliose, barren, best of the 
plumose forms, strong loam, whinstone rock, high on 
the hillside ; there would be some 30 or 40 crowns all 
together, some of them with fronds not more than six or 
seven inches long, showing good character; species 
plentiful. 

stricta, Whitwell ... Cautley N.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds erect, very narrow, gravelly soil, whin- 
stone rock, mixed with normals, some 50 or 60 crowns 
all together, growing on the high roadside, not many of 
the species. 

serrulata, Whitwell ... Garsdale N.W. 

Remarks. — Pinnules unevenly reduced, distinct; growing 
just on the division of the limestone and whinstone rock, 
gravelly soil, one plant with four or five crowns, not 
many normals, low down in the valley. 

serrulata Troutbeck N.E. 

Remarks. — Pmnules serrated, not so distinct as the above ; 
I only saw one plant; species plentiful. 

serrata crispa Kentmere N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnules evenly reduced, serrated and crispy, 
strong loam, whinstone rock, high on the hillside, one 
plant with four or five crowns, not many normals. 


32 

Athyrium Filix-fcemina. 
Name. Where Found. Aspect. 

apiculatum Potterfell S.W. 

Remarks. — Pinnas narrow and caudate, yellow loam, whin- 
stone rock, growing on the roadside, only a few plants, 
not many of the species. 

insequale extensum. ... Garsdale N.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnae irregular, strong loam, whinstone rock, 
high on the hillside, not many plants about. 

insequale pinnulum ... Goniston ... ... S.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnules as if eaten away, narrow fronded, 
gravelly soil, whinstone rock, only one plant, species 

plentiful. 

medio. deficiens ... ... Crook N.W. 

Remarks. — Basal pinnules wanting, whinstone rock, four 
or five crowns all together, growing on the roadside. 
Also found in Kentmere. 

pterophorum Crook S.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnules crowded, whinstone roclc, yellow loam, 
three or four crowns all together on the roadside. 

congestum, Whitwell ... Kentmere S.W. 

Remarks. — Pinnules thick, dense, and crispy ; good form, 
gravelly soil, on a bank by the river, four crowns all 
together, species plentiful. 

congestum crispum ... Wastdale 

Blechnum spicant. 

condensum Garsdale N.W. 

Remarks. — Fronds congested, etc., sandstone rock, strong 
loam, only one plant, species plentiful. 

caudatum Borrackfold ... N.W. 

Remarks. — Apex of fronds attentuated, yellow loam, whin- 
stone rock, about 20 plants all together. 

imbricatum Potterfell S.E. 

Remarks. — Segments overlapping, gravelly soil, whinstone 
rock, one plant, species plentiful. 

paradoxum ... ... Banisdale ... ... N.E. 

Remarks. — Three rows of pinnae, one plant growing in the 
crevice of whinstone rock, species plentiful. 

projectum Potterfell S.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnae irregular, gravelly soil, whinstone rock, 
four crowns all together, species plentiful. 


1 ^ 


Name. Where Found. Aspect. 

polydactyluni ... ... Potterfell ... ... S.E. 

Remarks. — This variety and Strictum I found in the same 
place as the above. 

strictum Whitwell ... Dent..« S.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds narrow and divided, yellow loam, whin- 
stone rock, one plant growing in the midst of a tuft of 
normals. Also found in Eskdale. 

strictum serratum ... Eskdale 

sub-serratum Burneside S.E. 

Remarks. — Posterior margin crenate, gravelly soil,whinstone 
rock, one plant amongst normals. 

serrulatum Whitwell ... Lambrigg N.W. 

Remarks. — Texture thin, serrulate, strong loam, whinstone 
rock; a small seedling when I found it growing amongst 
some more seedlings ; species plentiful. 

super-bellum Near Kendal ... S.W. 

Remarks. — Texture thin and fine, strong loam, whinstone 
rock, one small plant growing in the centre of a tuft of 
normals, not many of the species. 

stricto-projectum ... Dent S.E. 

Remarks. — Pinnse irregular, stony soil, whinstone rock, one 
plant amongst many normals. 

trinervium Dent S.E. 

Remarks. — Basal pinnse very large, stony soil, whinstone 
rock, one plant, not many of the species. 

Lastrea Filix-Mas.'"'' 

cristata ... Kendal Fell ... S.W. 

Remarks. — Growing in the face of the limestone rock. 

grandiceps Near Kendal 

polydactyla ... ... Longsleddale 

Lastrea pseudo-mas. 
cristata ... ... ... Great Langdale ... N.E. 

Remarks. — Golden-coloured pinnae, crested pendulous, yellow 
loam, whinstone rock, four or five crowns all together, 
species plentiful. Also found in Langdale and Longsled- 
dale. 

■'^ Mr. Whitwell has recently sent us fronds of very fine 
crested forms of L. /. m. linearis, raised by him. They range 
from prettily tasselled types to fine grandiceps. — Ed. 


n 


4 


Various. 

Name. Where Found. Aspect. 

Scol. vulgare Whitwellii ...Serpentine Walks... S.E. 

Remarks. — Strongly ramo-cristate, limestone rock, one small 
plant, very few normals. 

Scol. V. bi marginatum ... Scout Scar S.W. 

Remarks. — Fronds narrow, one small seedling, not many 
normals. 

Scol. V. multifidum ... Ribble Head ... S.W. 

Remarks.— Crested, one small plant, limestone rock, species 
plentiful. 

Scol. V. undulatum ... Beetham S.W. 

Remarks. — Fronds frilled, limestone, one plant, species 
plentiful. 

Lastrea dilatata crispa 

Polypodium vulgare ramosum... Near Kendal... N.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds divided at the base of the fronds, one 
small seedling growing on an old thorn bush. 

Polypodium Phegopteris interruptum Langdale...S.E. 

Remarks. — Fronds defective, yellow soil, whinstone rock, 
a patch about one yard square, the species not so 
plentiful. 

Cystopteris fragilis interrupta ...Kendal Fell... N.E. 

Remarks. — Strong loam, limestone rock, one plant, species 
not so plentiful. 

Asplenium Ruta-muraria cristata ...Kendal Fell... S.E. 

Remarks. — Limestone rock, one plant, species plentiful. 
Asplenium Ruta-muraria dissecta... Kendal Fell... S.E. 

Remarks. — One plant on the limestone. 
Hymenophyllum unilaterale cristatum Langdale N. 

Remarks. — A very fine patch of it. 

George Whitwell, M.B.P.S. 


POLYPODIUM VULGARE. 

(The Common Polypody.) 

In many parts of the country, from Land's End to John 

o' Groats, the common Polypody may be seen peeping 

out in the hedgerows and hedgebanks, from the crevices 

and summits of old walls, in the forks and gnarled bark 


crevices of old trees, and among the rocky debris of 
secluded glens. In exposed situations it holds its own with 
short stunted fronds of an inch or two in length, and in 
congenial shade and moist situations we have found it with 
fronds nearer two feet, hanging in pendulous bunches. 
Normally, its fronds are long and narrow, consisting first of 
a somewhat long bare stalk, which, continuing through the 
frond, bears a row on each side of long smooth-edged, 
tongue-shaped side divisions tapering to a bluntish point. 
At the back of these fronds, if fertile, we may find each side 
division to bear two rows of bright golden spore heaps, 
looking under a lens like symmetrical heaps of ripe 
oranges, the seeming oranges being capsules full of golden 
spores, a beautiful sight to see. Occasionally, especially in 
Wales, we may find the side divisions saw-toothed and 
pointed, and even more or less subdivided, and in some 
localities the tips of the side divisions are often divided into 
two or three (P. v. hifidum), though rarely all of them. 
Examining the plant more narrowly we shall find that the 
fronds rise singly from a thick fleshy creeping rootstock 
covered with brownish scales, something on the lines of the 
Haresfoot fern {Davallia Canaviensis), this being firmly 
anchored into the crevices or soil by a number of roots 
proper. 

No one, to see this simply constructed fern, could 
imagine into what wonderful forms it has sported and what 
splendid evergreen ornamental plants they constitute. In 
our own Fernery we have the cream of these, numbering 
about forty distinct types, all but one of which was found 
as a wild plant, some in old pollard trees, some in walls, 
some in hedges, and some in rocky crevices. Let us 
walk round and take them as they come. Here is a 
beautiful group in a hanging basket, one of the best ways 
to grow the plant. It is a basin-shaped galvanized wire 
one, about 15 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep, 
suspended by four strong wires from a hook in one of the 
roof supports, for it is very heavy. This was lined with 
living moss to retain the soil and was filled up with a 


3^ 


compost of loam and brown peat, half and half, with a 
liberal dash of coarse silver sand. In this we have six fine 
varieties : P. v. gvandiceps Fovstev, with heavy tassels 
on all tips and fronds, 15 to 18 inches long ; P. V' 
hifido-cvistatiim, a narrow form with smaller tassels ; P. v. 
glomevaUim Mtillins, with curious bunchy semi - crested 
fronds, no two of which are ever alike ; P. v. ptdchervimmn, 
a giant form, with thrice divided broad fronds, a grand 
variety ; P. v. gvandiceps Parker, bearing heavy crispy 
bunch crests at the top of almost bare stalks, and finally 
P. V. longipinnatuni, found by ourselves at Killarney, with 
long slender side divisions about 3^ inches long and 
pointed. These were originally planted on the surface, 
burying the roots proper and pegging down the rootstocks, 
and now, after some five years, they have taken full 
possession and push their fronds from the sides as well, 
forming a grand group. Each spring we give them a 
mulch of burnt fern fronds, i.e. ashes mixed with a little 
soil, and this seems to benefit them greatly, as they rise 
with increased vigour every season. They also remain 
green and fresh throughout the winter, and though frozen 
in severe weather, the glass being their only protection, 
they quite recover themselves when the thaw sets in, and 
retain their verdure until the new growth starts to replace 
them. 

We next come to a series of pots and pans, the latter 
accommodating specimen plants standing on (not in) red- 
ware saucers, which are kept filled with water and are 
usually filled with roots as well. The pans are shallow 
and about 15 inches across, sufficient for a good plant to 
attain its maximum development. Here we have a series 
of the camhricnm or Welsh Polypody section, different 
entirely from the above, except P. v. pulclierrimuui which, 
however, they far exceed in the delicacy and extent of their 
division. There are five types of these, all distinct, viz., 
P. V. camhricnm, the ordinary form of it, with fronds 
nearly 2 feet long and 8 or 9 broad, the side divisions being 
2 inches wide and deeply cut into long leafy-pointed sub- 


37 

divisions, somewhat overlapping each other, and of a thin 
papery texture, as different as possible in every way from 
the normal type ; next comes a distinct improvement on 
this, P. V. camb. Prestonii, not so large growing, but much 
denser and more finely cut; next another variant, P. v. 
camb. Bavvowii, a stiffer and bolder grower and quite 
distinct, but not so dense ; then P. v. camb. Hadwinii, 
again distinct and very erect, and, finally, a form which we 
believe to be P. v. camb, Oakleyce, a dwarfed caiubvicum 
very finely cut. 

In another grand group, close to these are plants of the 
old P. V. cvistatum, prettily tasselled, and a form given us 
by Mr. G. W. Wollaston, as found at Scarborough, with 
heavier tassels. 

We next come to one of the most remarkable forms of 
all known as P. v. Cornubiense or elegantissimum. This 
was found on an ash pollard in Cornwall, and has its fronds 
divided over and over again into long slender segments, so 
that they have almost a moss-like appearance at their best. 
They have, however, a peculiar trick of reverting partially 
to the quite common type, producing also fronds which are 
beautifully divided but on coarser lines, the result being 
that in one and the same specimen we may see a normal 
frond, with a single pinnule finely divided, associated with 
smooth-edged plain ones, or conversely, a finely divided 
frond, with a single normal division, or a frond made up of 
all three types, fine, intermediate, and common ; some 
carefully selected forms, like P. v. tvichomanoides, display 
this tendency less and sometimes hardly at all. 

Mr. Clapham, of fern renown, managed to cross this 
variety with P. v. hifido cristattini. described above, and we 
have a specimen of this which, owing to this reversion 
tendency, bears about seven distinct sorts of fronds, viz., 
normal, true bifido cvistatum and fronds, with these two 
characters cropping up indiscriminately in conjunction 
with the coarse and fine types of Cornubiense, tasselled and 
plain, a very comical instance of want of determination, 
as the fronds evidently start, with their minds, so to speak, 


38 


only half made up as to the form they should assume, and 
this they change repeatedly as they progress. 

Then we have saw-toothed varieties intermediate between 
the common and the much divided types, and these on grand 
and dwarf scales, and, finally, we have P. Schnei devil, the 
offspring of a cross between the great exotic Phlehodinm 
aureum and P. v. Covnuhiense, a giant Covmihiense with all its 
vagaries aforesaid. 

We think we have now said enough to show that our 
common Polypody has capabilities of which probably most 
of our readers were ignorant. C. T. D. 


POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM AND 

ANGUL.ARE. 

By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 

For some years I have had a plant under the name of 
P. angidave phtnwsum grande, Moly, and have noticed all 
along that it has a firmer texture than the majority of 
augulaves, approximating to that of Pateyli. The cutting 
and form of the pinnules, however, were those of angularey 
i.e. stalked with square shoulders and more or less decom- 
pound. 

In the spring of this year the plant had a clean single 
crown, but for some reason only half of the circle of fronds 
developed, the rest remaining dormant, but still firm and 
quite alive. These spring fronds were of the usual angulare 
character, vigorous and very handsome. 

Towards the end of July the dormant half of the crown 
began to develop, and when the fronds were completed 
they were found to be quite of aculcatuni character, i.e. 
narrower than usual, of thick texture and glossy surface, 
with stalkless wedge-shaped pinnules, but still plumose and 
barren as usual. The plant thus presented the unusual 
character of a single crown, one half of which was plumose 
angulare, and the other half, plumose aculeatum ! Now (end 
of September) a little offset is growing from the side of 
the crown, the fronds of which are, if possible, still more 


39 

definitely aculeatum than the large fronds, but only because, 
being smaller, they show less of the plumose character. 
There is the usual " lobatum " type of young aculeatum, the 
pinnules tending to become confluent and the edges of the 
pinnules quite prickly. It would be interesting to know 
the experience of other growers who have this beautiful 
variety; I have heard from one (Mr. J. A. Wilson), who 
has had the plant for more than twenty years, but who has 
never seen any symptoms of acttleatnm about it. 
Reading, September 27th, 1909. 

This case is extremely interesting as evidence of the very 
close relationship of P. aciileatum and P. annulare. Though 
in the vast majority of instances the two species adhere to 
their distinct specific characters as normals, among the 
abnormal forms, and especially in some of the " gran- 
diceps " types, there has always been dift^erences of opinion 
as to which species they belong, and it is obvious that any 
P. angulave sport, which involves a thickening of texture 
or an approach to P. aculeatum make, renders certainty 
impossible, especially as both species often affect the 
same habitats and grow side by side. Quite possibly for 
this reason the dubious forms may be natural hybrids, for 
Mr. E. J. Lowe was the first to demonstrate that the two 
species could be crossed, as was evidenced by his P. 
hyhvidum, a cross between P. ang. Wakeleyanum, a cruciate 
angulave and P. ac. densum, a congested aculeatum. A hybrid 
origin might, of course, account for Dr. Stansfield's experi- 
ence, and also for the intermediate '• sports " alluded to. 
We have ourselves found a plant exactly of angulave cutting, 
but equally exactly of aculeatum texture and lucent surface. 

Editor. 

PoLYSTiCHUM Angulare: Var Lineare Cristatum. 

We have received a division of a very prettily crested 
form of lineave from Mr. Joe Edwards, of Moston, Man- 
chester. Neat tufted crests at all terminals, associated with 

the characteristic form of lineave. 

Editor. 


FERN HUNTING IN WINTER. 

Although we have only had one experience of winter 
fern hunting in this country, we were so abundantly con- 
vinced by that one that it was not only profitable, but in 
some respects presented advantages over other seasons, 
that we feel that we can honestly recommend it. The 
deciduous species, such as Lady Ferns and most of the 
Lastreas, are, of course, placed out of court by their invisi- 
bility, but the evergreens, the Shield Ferns, Hartstongues, 
Polypodium vulgave, Blechnum spicant and all the Spleen worts 
retain their foliage in congenial districts in such good 
condition that varieties may easily be recognised. 

The main advantage in winter hunting is, that while in 
the summer and autumn vast numbers of ferns are mixed 
up and more or less hidden by various rank growths of 
other vegetation, most of this, being deciduous, disappears 
when frost sets in, and this permits of much easier inspec- 
tion of the associated ferns than at any other time. A 
handicap in the late summer months and the early autumn 
ones is, that the mixed growth of wayside ferns and weeds 
in the roads and lanes is ruthlessly cut down, for tidiness 
sake, so that perhaps for miles, except in the higher parts 
of the hedges and banks, nothing is left of the ferns but 
the stumps of the fronds, so that the chance of detecting 
variations is practically nil. Later on, however, there 
arises a fresh growth of the ferns, so that by the time the 
growing season is over they are again in evidence, to 
reward the keen search of the variety hunter, should any 
variety exist. 

As a consequence of these facts, it will be seen that, 
leaving the deciduous ferns out of the question, the whole 
of the winter and the early spring present capital oppor- 
tunities for hunting, and reduce the off-season to a 
minimum. As a matter of fact, as mentioned in a previous 
article, a winter hunt at Christmas in the Torquay district 
yielded some very good finds of Havtstonguc, in a locality, 
moreover, so much within the town limits, that ferns of 
any kind were very scarce. One of these, found high up 


41 

on a brick wall, has proved to be unique, since it has turned 
out to be one of the curious ferns known as dimorphic, i.e. pro- 
ducing two distinct kinds of fronds both consistently abnor- 
mal. In one set the fronds are papery and simple, with a 
small finally divided tassel at the top, while in the other set 
the fronds branch, the divisions bearing large much-divided 
tassels of a somewhat bunchy character. In addition to 
this, these latter fronds regularly produce proliferous bulbils, 
singly or in pairs, at the point where the stalk enters the 
leafy portion, and also in the angle at the point where the 
branches diverge. 

Bulbils are by no means uncommon on abnormal Havts- 
tongues, occurring sometimes on the faces of the fronds, as in 
O'Kelly's cvistatum vivipavwn, and sometimes when fronds 
have more or less aborted, bulbils then being engendered on 
the stump left. No case, however, is recorded of stem 
bulbils of the class described occurring regularly on un- 
injured fronds, precisely as they occur on the proliferous 
Shield ferns. This fern was frozen so tight into the chink 
it occupied that only a piece could be cut out, now a pretty 
plant, and in itself was a good reward for a fern hunt of an 
hour or two on a bright frosty day at Christmas. 

C. T. D. 


THE HYBRIDIZATION OF FERNS. 

It may interest our readers to know that more than one 
well certified case of hybridization, by means of con- 
jointly sown spores of different species has been recorded, 
and that the plants so produced are still in existence. Mr. 
E.J. Lowe first succeeded by sowing a cruciate variety of 
Polystichum angulave with a somewhat dense form of P. acu- 
leatmn, the result being a cruciate acnleaUim. Mr. Schneider, 
in Messrs. Veitch's nursery at Chelsea, also obtained the 
remarkable hybrid named Polypodium SchneidevH, by sowing 
our native species and variety, P. vulgare elegantissimum with 
P. glaucum. The double parentage in this case is peculiarly 
evidenced by the fact that although the fern grows as large 


42 

and as robustly as P. glaucum, it is an exact replica on that 
large scale of the comparatively small P. v. elegantissinmm, 
and is, moreover, nearly hardy. The evidence is farther 
strengthened by the fact that P. v. elegantissimum is polymor- 
phic, bearing several distinct types of fronds, viz. normal, very 
finely dissected, and intermediate, i.e. more coarsely divided, 
and the hybrid does precisely the same, even to the fact 
that one and the same frond may display all three characters 
in the most wayward way conceivable. 

Among existing varieties of British Ferns there is a con- 
siderable number of undoubted crosses. One form of 
PolysticJmni angulare (P. ang. polydactyhim) appears to possess 
an extraordinary faculty of imparting its polydactylo2is 
character to any Polystichnm it is sown with. There are 
scores of other varieties which have thus been rendered 
polydactylous by conjoined sowing with this fern, and the fact 
that the new character is due to this crossing and not 
spontaneous, is practically proved by a parental defect 
common to all the offspring, viz., pinnae here and there 
which are not so characterized. I have seen a very large 
number, and never found aa exception to this. Others 
might be cited, but these are sufficient to prove beyond all 
doubt that cross fertilization does occur, both between 
species and varieties. Given, indeed, a somewhat dense 
mass of prothalli of two kinds, and a flooding when they are 
mature, the water must be pervaded by the fertilizing 
antherozoids, which can thus find their way to alien prothalli 
and so fertilize them. Given, too, a purposed crossing with 
two distinct forms, and a percentage of progeny showing 
both types conjoined, and we are certainly entitled to 
attribute such result to cross fertilization, though we may 
not have been able, as with flowers, to bring the two dis- 
tinct reproductive elements together manually, as can be 
done with pollen grains. 

C. T. D. 


43 

PIONEERS OF THE FERN CULT.- 

By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 

Dr. (now Sir) W. H. Allcmin, a London physician, who 
early devoted attention to ferns, and made some suc- 
cessful finds. Author of a classification of fern 
varieties which was probably never published. 

J. M. Barnes, of Levens, Westmoreland. An enthusiastic 
cultivator and keen judge of ferns. The most successful 
among the early hunters in the north. Finder of 
dozens of varieties of Lastvea montana, including several 
of the very best. The fern authority of the Lake 
district in his time. Died about 1890. 

T. E. Bennett, Bletchworth, Surrey, deserves mention as 
the earliest finder of whose discovery there is explicit 
record, having found Polyp, v. omnilacenim in 1848. 

W. C. Carbonell, of Usk, Mon. Perhaps scarcely a 
pioneer as he was a fern pupil of Colonel Jones, but 
he was a faithful stalwart during the dark ages of the 
later seventies and eighties when ferns were most out 
of fashion. He obtained much success as a raiser of 
angulares, his divisilohes " stiptdatum " and *' longipinna- 
timif" being among his greatest achievements. Found a 
pretty persevvate angulave. A most genial and kindly 
man. Bequeathed his entire collection to Kew 
Gardens, thus founding a national collection of British 
Fern varieties. 

A. Clapham, of Scarborough, an enthusiastic cultivator, 

hunter, and raiser of ferns, who flourished in the sixties. 

His Scolopendvium Claphamii was probably the earliest 

of the fringed cvispiims, and was for some time unique, 

though now superseded by the modem fiinhriate cvispums. 

Found a very fine form of A. tricJionianes incisum. 

* These notes on the principal pioneer British Fern hunters and 
raisers have been kindly compiled by Dr. F. W. Stansfield from his 
personal recollections. They have been arranged alphabetically to 
facilitate reference, and their order does not therefore indicate in any 
way their relative status. The names of numerous other devotees to 
the cult have been handed down to us in connection with their dis- 
coveries, but the list certainly embraces those whose labours have been 
of the greatest importance in the earlier days, and whose memories 
should therefore be helddearby all lovers of our Native Ferns. — Editor. 


44 

F. Clowes, medical practitioner, of Windermere, is best 
known as the first finder of L. remota as a British plant. 
It was then supposed to be a new British species, but 
is now, with good reason, believed to be a hybrid. 
Found a marginate Polypody in 1854. •^- ^'^"^ota has 
since been found by several other hunters. 

John Dadds, of Ilfracombe, an early hunter and grower of 
ferns. Did not approve of raising fern from spores, as 
it " spoiled the market for hunters." He will, however, 
be probably best remembered as the raiser of the 
polydactyiotis Lastrea which is known by his name, and 
which is the most graceful of that section. Finder of 
AdianUim C. V. phimosum. Died about 1904. 

C. Elworthy, gardener to Sir G. Trevelyan, Nettle- 
combe, Devon, one of the most successful of early 
hunters, being very active in the fifties. His P. nng. 
pkimosum and roUmdatum, are well-known and still 
standard forms. 

William Forster, of Salford. A thorough-going enthusiast, 
as proved by his success in growing ferns under the 
most depressing conditions in the heart of a large town. 
An early and successful hunter, though not one of the 
earliest. A working man, whose scanty holidays were 
all fern-hunts. 

Edwin F. Fox, surgeon, of Brislington, found a rellexed 
Athyriuin in 1850, and continued an enthusiastic lover, 
cultivator, and raiser of ferns until his death about 
1892. Was co-worker with Col. Jones in the produc- 
tion of the plumose divisilohe strain of angulares. 

Patrick Neill Fraser. An early hunter and cultivator 
of ferns. Did valuable work for many years by pub- 
lishing periodical lists of all the known varieties of 
British ferns. Remained an enthusiastic fern-lover to 
the time of his death. 

Robert Gray, Alphington. The pioneer hunterof angulave 
hrachiato-cristaUi?n, of which his form found in 1854 ^^^^^ 
probably the earliest, and, when in its best character, 


45 

is still unsurpassed, although probably a dozen finds 
of the same type have since been made. Mr. Gray 
found many other good varieties. 

W. Barnard Hankey, of Cranleigh, Surrey, a skilful 
cultivator and raiser and successful hunter ; found a 
P. ang. brachiato-cristatum in 1866. 

J. K. Hodgson and Mrs. Hodgson, of Ulverstone, were 
both early fern lovers, growers, and successful finders 
of varieties, both having good records in the sixties. 
Perhaps their best find was an A. f.f. phimosum, made 
by the lady in 1870. This is a beauty, and a true 
phimosum, although somewhat ungallantly named siib- 
plumostim. 

Charles Jackson, of Barnstaple, an early and very suc- 
cessful hunter of ferns. Found the first annulare 
pulcherrimnm ; also Asplenium lanceolatum micfodon, A. 
AdianUim-nigvtim microdon, and A. mavinum phimosum. 
These ought to be sufficient to perpetuate his memory 
for centuries at least. 

J. James, Vauvert, Guernsey. A mighty hunter in the 
fifties and sixties. His A. f.f. covymhifevum is still one 
of the most perfect examples of pure cresting. 

Captain (afterwards Col.) A. M. Jones. Great' as a 
hunter and cultivator, but perhaps greater still as a 
raiser of new varieties. Was the originator of the 
plumose - divisilohe strain of angular es (among them 
Baldivynii), which includes still some of the most 
beautiful of British ferns. Raised a great number of 
first-rate forms of angulare by crossing and otherwise. 
No one did so much for ferns as did " the Colonel" in 
his time. A faithful and generous friend, and the best 
type of an English gentleman. Died suddenly in 1889. 

Miss Fanny Kitson, a clergyman's daughter, of Torquay, 
was an early admirer and grower of ferns, and a 
hunter of varieties. Found several good things in 
P. angulare and Scolopendrium. 


46 

Edward J. Lowe, F.R.S., etc. Well known as a 
voluminous writer on ferns. Began to cultivate 
British ferns in 1842, and continued an enthusiast 
until his death, about 1900. A hunter of varieties to 
some extent, but much more successful as a raiser, and 
especially as a hybridizer. Raised a hybrid between 
Scolopcndviwii and Ceterach, which, unfortunately, did 
not live long to commemorate the achievement. 
Raised a cruciate actileatum by crossing that species 
with a cruciate angular e. A very genial man. 

J. E. Mapplebeck, an early hunter and grower of ferns. 
Found and raised many good things — perhaps his best 
being P. ang. aerocladon, found in 1862, which remains 
unique and is still rare. Still living. 

James Moly, of Hawkchurch, Axminster, afterwards of 
Charmouth. Probably the greatest and most successful 
of hunters, especially among angulaves, of which he has 
found literally hundreds of good varieties, including 
many uniques. His greatest achievements are possibly 
his pulchevrinmms, of which several are unfortunately 
lost, but two of which still remain. His pUunosum 
grande is probably the noblest purely plumose Folystichum 
ever found or raised. It is intermediate between 
angiilare and aculeatum. Has been also very success- 
ful among Scolopendriums. Mr. Moly is still living. 

Charles Monkman, of Malton, Yorks., an early and suc- 
cessful hunter, especially among Athyviums. Found 
A. f.f. aerocladon in i860. 

Thomas Moore, Curator of the Botanical Gardens at 
Chelsea, the " Physic Garden " of the Society of 
Apothecaries, was the first writer to give systematic 
names to varieties of ferns. A keen and critical 
botanist, and an authority on fern species as well as 
varieties. Author of " Nature-printed British Ferns," 
the plates of which have never since been equalled. 
For many years the authority on British ferns. 


47 

Robert Moule, of Ilfracombe, another early Imnter, will 
be remembered as the finder of A. f.f. Clavissima, 
though many other good things went into his bag. 
He also raised the crested form of Cystoptevis fvagllis. 

Reverend Charles Padley, sometime Rector of Little- 
hampton. Was a first-rate judge of ferns and a 
mighty hunter of varieties ; probably in his day the 
most successful hunter among migulares. Finder of 
an early P. ang. pulchevvinmm, the best angtilave 
tripinnat2im, and hosts of others. 

Henry Parker, Weston-Super-Mare, found his very fine 
Poly pod. V. gvandiceps in 1854. 

G. S. Patey, formerly of East Hendred, Berks., now of 
Newton Abbott, Devon, a successful hunter in the 
sixties and seventies. His magnificent P. ang . phimo stun 
(Pateyii), and his perserratmn will be an enduring 
monument of his fame. 

W. H. Phillips, happily still among us, has through the 
greater part of a long life been an enthusiastic hunter, 
cultivator and fern-lover. Has found a great number 
of varieties among most of the species of British ferns, 
the greatest number being angulares. Perhaps his best 
find is P. ang. setoso-cnneatnm, which, however, has been 
paralleled by Mr. Moly. President of British 
Pteridological Society, 1904-5. 

Robert Sim, of Foots Cray, a successful nurseryman, 
grower and raiser of ferns. Raised L. pseudo-mas 
ramulosissima. 

Abraham Stansfield, of Todmorden. An excellent 
general botanist. Began very early to cultivate 
ferns, and published a catalogue in 1852. Did 
much to popularize and extend the cult. Found 
many good varieties, though perhaps nothing abso- 
lutely unique. Was one of the first to deliberately 
cross varieties, and raised a crested cruciate Atliyvinm 
{Pvitchavdii cvistatum) about 1865 in this way. Also 
made some very successful crosses between A. f.f. 


48 

plumosum and Craigii, and between phimosum and 
congestum. Died 1880. 

Mrs. Agar Thompson, sister of the Rev. C. Padley, was 
the finder of many first-rate things, including a P. 
ang. pidchervimiim, P. acid, acrocladon (1858), P. ang. 
Thompsonice [cvistatnm). 

George Whitwell, the esteemed Secretary of the B. Pt. 
Soc, although not one of the earliest hunters, has been 
one of the most successful in the north, having found 
over twenty forms of Lastvea vionfana, including a 
pkimosa, which is perhaps the best yet recorded. His 
finds among Blechnmn include pavadoxuni which is 
quite unique among ferns. 

John Wills, of Chard, another medical fern-lover, and a 
very successful hunter and grower. A pupil of Mr. 
Moly as a hunter. Finder of perhaps the most 
thorough of the angtdave pulchevrwmnis, though it is 
doubtful whether this is now in existence. Also the 
distributor of aculeaUim ptdchevrinium. 

John A. Wilson, of Bowness, an early hunter, who is still 
alive : found some good things in the sixties and 
seventies, including Polypod. v, sevva, L.paleacea cvistata, 
and vamo -cvistata, and L. montana crispatissima. Mrs. 
Wilson was also a successful hunter. 

George B. Wollaston, of Chiselhurst. Next in point 
of time as an authority on names to Mr. Moore. An 
enthusiastic hunter and cultivator of ferns. Finder of 
many excellent varieties of P. angtdarc, of which his 
acutilobuin and his plumosum are, perhaps, the ]3est 
known. He it was who first defined and named the 
three sub-species which make up the aggregate 
Lastvea FUix mas of Presl. He was also the originator 
of the descriptive system of naming varieties, which is 
now generally accepted. 


AMERICAN FERNS. 

There are more than 300 Species of Fernworts 
in the United States and Canada, and an immense 
number of varieties. A majority of British ferns 
are among the number. Read what the Americans 
have found out about them in 

TLbc jfetn Bulletin, 

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 

Many new Species and Forms have been 
described and illustrated in its pages. 

Annual Suhscription^ 3s. post free. 

A Set of the 13 Volumes still in print will 
be sent for 36 shillings, post free. 

Sample Copy for a Penny Stamp, 
Six Different Numbers for One Shilling. 


Address— WILLARD N. CLUTE & Co., Joliet, III., U.S.A. 


FERNS. 


* ¥ * 

R B. MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic^ Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sizes, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

* * * 

stove, 6recni)ousc. ana oiDcr Plants 
. . .are also laracip grown. . . . 

* * * 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants can be had post free 
upon application to — 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDMONTON. 


VOL. I. No. 3. 


♦ ♦ ♦ wUv ♦ ♦ ♦ 


JBritieb fcvn 
(3a3ette» 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


riDarcb, 1910. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Secretary: Mr. G. WHIT WELL, Serpentine Cottage), 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


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THE 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE, 


Vol. I. 


MARCH, 1910. 


No. 


CONTENTS. 

Editorial Note 

Our Frontispiece .. 

The King of the Male Ferns .. 

The Naming of Fern Varieties 

Fern Curios . . 

The Decorative Value of Our Native Ferns 

Some Ancient Uses and Beliefs in Ferns .. 

The Jones and Fox Collection in the 
Zoological Gardens .. 

Spring Treatment of Hardy Ferns .. 


• • • • 


49 


• • • • 


50 


r • • • 


50 


• • • • 


54 


• • • • 


56 


• • • • 


60 


• • • • 


64 


Clifton 


• • • • 


65 


• • • • 


70 


EDITORIAL NOTE. 

It is very satisfactory to be able to announce that the 
issue of the " Gazette " has resulted in a large increase in 
the membership of the Society, including several in the 
United States and Canada. In this issue we are happy to 
give several interesting contributions from members, and 
trust that in future ones these may increase and constitute 
a fund of practical information for fern lovers generally. 
The Editor would also be glad to receive specimen fronds 
of new finds or special raisings of obvious merit, or 
photos of same, accompanied by stamps for return post- 
age, if such be necessary. 

As previously stated, the annual subscriptiDn of 5s. 
(payable either to the Secretary or the Editor) entitles to 
membership and four issues of the " Gazette," and to the 
next issue we shall append a list of members to facilitate 
that intercommunication which is one of the most inter- 
esting features aimgd at, 


50 

A copy of the " Gazette " will be gladly sent to any one 
likely to become a member. All communications, MSS., 
etc., concerning the " Gazette " should be addressed direct 
to the Editor, ii, Shaa Road, Acton, London, W, 

Editor. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

This represents another of the very beautiful and, 
indeed, unique section of P. acttleatum raised from P. ac. 
pulchervimwn, one form of which was depicted in our 
frontispiece to No. i, the parental form being also shown 
on page 4 of that issue. This variety occurred in Mr. C. B. 
Green's batch of seedlings, and, as will be seen, differs 
very markedly from the rest of the " gracillimum" section, 
approaching in foliose dissection and plumose character the 
wonderful P. angulare divisolobes of Col. Jones and Dr. Fox. 
It has been consequently named P. ac. plumosjun Green, and 
deservedly obtained an award of merit from the Royal 
Horticultural Society. Fortunately, this new varietal 
section of the species, despite its extra delicacy of cutting 
and appearance, has inherited the parental robustness of 
character, though time has not yet sufficed to attain similar 
size. The production of spores we think is doubtful, but 
a tendency has already been shown to the production of 
bulbils and offsets, which practically secure true propaga- 
tion of the several types produced. The photo was kindly 
supplied by Mr. C. B. Green. 

Editor. 


THE KING OF THE MALE FERNS. 

Lastrea pseudo-mas Cristata. 

We have before us as we write a splendidly grown 
specimen of this truly regal British Fern, the fronds of 
which are fully four feet in length, while the trunk, which 


51 

thirty years of proper culture has enabled it to develop, 
adds a full foot and a-half and constitutes it a thorough- 
bred British Tree Fern. This plant belongs to the hard 
evergreen section of the Male Ferns as distinct from the 
softer section " filix-mas," the common Male Fern, and 
therefore is as ornamental in the winter, when foliage is 
precious, as in the summer when it becomes one of a host 
among deciduous species. It is heavily and symmetrically 
tasselled at the tips of its fronds and pinnae, or side divi- 
sions. This imparts a highly ornate character to it, far 
and away eclipsing the simpler beauty of the normal form 
of the species. 

The original plant of this was found in Cornwall, and as it 
is particularly generous not only of spores but also of offsets, 
it has become very generally distributed, and even in those 
benighted districts where the natives live up to their necks, 
so to speak, in ferns, and yet don't know a Hartstoiigue from a 
Lady Fern, we have been deluded into long walks by rumours 
of So-and-So having a rare fern in his garden, only to find 
that a specimen of the "King" has found its way there. 
Both in Devon and in Kent this has occurred, in both 
cases an apochryphal rumour existing that the fern was a 
local find, a reputation we felt bound to destroy. 

Thanks to the fertility above mentioned and the extremely 
easy culture of the Fern, no collection exists without one or 
more specimens, but this means little so far as adequate 
recognition is concerned, for it should not merely figure in 
collections, its hardiness, beauty and cheapness entitle it to 
a place in every rockery as well as to a high post of honour 
under glass. To attain the result, however, which we have 
described, viz. the aspect of a Tree Fern, there is just 
that touch of careful and persistent culture required, which 
makes a fern plant precious. If we have nothing to do but 
dump a plant into a pot and it straightway grows like a 
weed, producing offsets in all directions and becoming a 
bush, we are apt to think little of it, but if, on the other 
hand, we can, by cliecking its exuberance in certain direc- 
tions, induce it to assume a specially beautiful character 


52 

and then maintain it, we feel we have, as it were, a " finger 
in the pie," aad that some of the credit is due to ourselves. 
This is precisely the case with the " King of the Male 
Ferns," that very gift of fertility in offsets above alluded 
to has to be persistently checked if we want a Tree Fern ; 
if we obtain a crown of the plant and instal it in a pot, in a 
short time it will send up a charming shuttlecock of its 
tasselled fronds and promise to be all right, but very soon 
we shall find little fronds peeping out at the base of the big 
ones and all round a little forest of youngsters will appear, 
each one developed from a bulbil near the base of the big 
fronds. These grow apace and in time we have a dense 
bush in which the original shuttlecock is indistinguishably 
merged, while the whole lot are fighting for existence in the 
limited area of soil which should only serve for one crown. 
Hence a mass of medium-sized fronds, pretty but mediocre. 
If, however, so soon as these little basal fronds become 
tangible plants we prize them off with a blunt knife, we 
shall find them come away with a little bunch of roots, all 
ready to give to admiring friends or pot up for additional 
specimens. These removed, more will come in time, but 
we must persist, and presently we shall see that the original 
shuttlecock, freed from competition at its roots or contribu- 
tions from itself towards a brood of youngsters, is fattening 
up its crown tremendously as a preliminary to sending up 
a circle of great robust fronds with double the development 
of those in the bush. Each year this goes on until the 
maximum height is attained and a trunk begins to form by 
the annual crown always springing up within that of the 
previous year at a slightly higher level, while the old 
fronds, dropping in the late spring as they are pushed out- 
wards by the new ones, leave their stumps as a contribu- 
tion. All this time the youngsters will have been trying 
to assert themselves, but as time goes on the tendency 
decreases, and, finally, the old plant has obtained such a 
foothold that if any appear they are too far from the ground 
to become rivals, though they still should be removed. 


Do 


The trunk of our specimen by no means represents a 
full-sized one, as we have seen very old plants with trunks 
fully two feet high, but at this stage, unless grown in a 
damp atmosphere and the trunk is frequently sprinkled, 
the size of the fronds is apt to dwindle. This is due to the 
fact that, like all trunk-forming or tree ferns, each year's 
growth sends down its independent bundles of root fibres 
from the bases of the new fronds, and these, naturally, if 
they have to travel far down a dry trunk, are apt to suffer 
on their way to the soil. The trunk is consequently 
strengthened year by year, and is gradually built up by 
these interlacing roots and the old bases of the decayed 
fronds. Apart from its beauty, hardiness, evergreen 
character and permanence as a pot plant, it is extremely 
interesting from the scientific side, since investigation 
has shown that its spores are peculiar in yielding fresh 
plants without any fertilization process, simple buds being 
produced on the prothallus, or little green scale, formed by 
the spore. It is probably due to this simplification that no 
fern is more easily raised from spores, and, indeed, it comes 
up freely as strays among sowings of other kinds and in the 
fernery generally. This faculty, however, does not prevent 
variation, and several very different varieties have certainly 
sprung from the " King." L. p. m. cvistata angustata is a 
very narrow form of it, less robust, but very good, and Mr. 
'Cropper has been fortunate enough to raise two lovely 
refined forms of it, of such a delicate character as no 
cultivator could have hoped for from such a stock. One 
of these, L. p. m. fimhviata cvistata, has thin semi-translucent 
fronds, prettily tasselled, and with a fine-toothed fringe on 
all edges. This is a gem, and comes perfectly true from 
its spores. The second one raised by Mr. Cropper is 
presumably a secondary sport from this, though we can 
only guess so. It is quite distinct, but much more 
b)eautiful in its fringing, which latter feature, moreover, 
is endowed with the remarkable faculty of growing out 
into prothalli, upon which buds appear and produce 

B 


54 

characteristic plants/'' We, therefore, see that the subject 
of our remarks has many points of interest besides its 
intrinsic beauty to recommend it, and, to our mind, by no 
means the least of these is its longevity, since there are few 
pot plants which wnll last their owner's lifetime without 
depreciation, as will the '' King of the Male Ferns" when 
once properly established as a Tree Fern. 

Charles T. Druery, F.L.S., V.M.H. 


THE NAMING OF FERN VARIETIES. 

We do not propose in this note to enter into the vexed 
question of nomenclature generally, which, in point of fact, 
is no such bugbear to those within the cult as it appears to 
be to outsiders, but to give a few suggestions as to the 
distinctive naming of crested forms. The phenomenon of 
cresting is fairly general among Ferns, and is evidenced in 
all grades from a mere forking of the terminal points to 
such a general branching of the frond that the normal flat 
growth is entirely eliminated, and a mossy bunch results, 
which may render similarly affected varieties of quite 
different species all but indistinguishable from each other. 
We see this, for instance, in the Lady Fern and the 
Havtstongue, A. f.f. unco- glomevat urn and S. v. Kelwayii 
dcns2im, both forming dense and moss-like masses, and 
hence very similar in appearance. Much confusion, 
however, exists in the naming of the simpler crested 
forms as regards the extent of tasselled division and its 

''■' In this respect L. p. vi. percy'istata apospora, as it has been named, is 
botanically one of the most remarkable ferns we know of, since in it 
are combined the two phenomena of "apospory," or production of 
prothalU on the fronds, and " apogamy," or production of young 
plants without a fertilization process, these originating as simple buds. 
This involves such an economy of vigour that tips of pinnas laid down 
and kept close have yielded plants in a week or two, and as the fern 
prothalli bud out and ramify into others, a single tip is capable of filling 
a pot with prothalli and yielding an indefinite number of plants. Un- 
fortunately, in these plants there is a great lack of constitutional vigour, 
and they rarely assume any great size. — C.T.D. 


55 

character. Broadly speaking, it falls into two sections,, 
flat fan-like division and bunch division. The flat cresting 
may be roughly graded thus: simple forking " furcatum " 
or " furcans," confined to two or three divisions, digitatum 
or fingered up to five or six, polydactylum up to ten, 
multifurcatum up to a score, all these divisions terminating 
in points and not dividing again, and all spreading in the 
same plane — fan-fashion. If the primary divisions fork 
again, we get true cristate or crested forms, and, still, 
adhering to the flat expansion, we may term thetn 
cristulatum, cristatum, or, in the case of divided ferns, 
percristatum, if the pinnules as well as the frond tip and 
pinnae are crested. When the flat mode of expansion is 
replaced by a sort of radiating division producing tufts or 
bunches, they become corymbiferous — " corymbiferum," 
and when these are large and heavy, the " grandiceps " 
form is attained, provided the terminal bunch of the frond 
is so characterized. An extreme form of this, producing 
dense ball-like crests, may be termed globosum. All these 
terms apply to fronds whose mid-ribs are not otherwise 
divided than at the tips, but when these split up lower 
down into branches, this character is indicated by ramosum, 
ramosissimum, ramulosissimum, or, in extreme cases, con- 
glomeratum. This ramose character is indicated in 
compound varieties, i.e. in which other characters occur 
in conjunction with it, either by the prefix ramo or the 
addition of the names of the more developed grades- 
mentioned above, thus ramo-digitatum or muricatum, 
ram.ulosissimum. 

These rules will cover a very large range of forms as a 
guide to finders or raisers, but it must be remembered that 
fern species have been endowed by their botanical godfathers 
with names indicating different sexes, and since these sexes 
are purely imaginary, in those terrible synonyms which are 
the bane of all studious plant-lovers, one and the same 
species may have been christened, say, John by one god- 
father, and Jenny by another. Our common Male Fern,. 


56 

for instance, under the name Lastvea is treated as a 
lady, and under that of Nephrodiiun as a neuter, and as 
grammar, both Latin and Greek, demands a gender agree- 
ment between the adjective and the subject, we must write 
Lastvea filix mas cvistata. and Neplivodiiim filix mas cristatuni 
to be correct. 

The moral of all this is that though we have given all the 
characters above mentioned the termination " um," ''a" 
must be used instead where the specific name is feminine. 
This is often shewn by an "a" termination as the neuter 
gender is evidenced by "um," but not always. Ptevis 
aquilina, for instance. It must, of course, be understood 
that the above remarks only touch the fringe of the subject 
of nomenclature, but, as we have said, they will assist in a 
very large number of cases in which now considerable con- 
fusion exists owing to the lack of guiding principles. 

C. T. D. 

FERN CURIOS. 

Although it is our aim in this " Gazette " to encourage the 
cultivation of our British Fern varieties in the direction of 
improvement of type and enhancement of beauty, it is not 
right to ignore entirely those curious " sports " which 
Nature occasionally contrives, and which in their way are 
even more interesting to the student of variation than those 
which involve, to a large degree, mere extensions of growth 
on otherwise normal lines. All the \iT\cx&?>\.e(l plumose forms, 
for instance, are of this last description, and many others, 
though varying much in detail, adhere in general structure to 
the normal plan. As examples of the types we have in 
view, we may take the various truncata varieties, such as 
Lastvea montana truncata, A . f. f. excuvvens,L. f. m. tyuncata,Scol. 
V. pevafevcns and covnutum, and several forms of P. vulgave. 
In all these, for some occult reason, the growth at the frond 
tip and, in the divided ferns, the pinnae as well, suddenly 
stops and ends more or less squarely, the midrib projecting 
for a short distance like a thorn. This peculiarity is truly 


57 

conveyed to the offspring by spores, and there is some Httle 
evidence in favour of its causing a sort of prepotency in the 
spores, as they certainly produce plants very freely ; and in 
Col. Jones' records it is stated that in a certain wood near 
Portishead S. v. pevafevens existed in abundance. A form 
of this, raised by ourselves, shows the truncate character in 
the basal lobes (S. v. tvipcvaf evens), and A. f. f. excuvvens^ 
shews it clearly, even in the pinnules. This would appear 
to form a converse character to cvistatum, in which the 
midribs are abnormally multiplied and extended instead of 
becoming aborted, for that is what practically truncation 
implies. 

In the Hartstongue we have numerous instances in which 
the normally smooth surface is broken up into roughnesses 
of various types, rugose, muricate, marginate, supra and sub- 
lineate and so on ; and in this case we have a curious parallel 
in the crested Begonias among flowering plants, where the 
surface of the petals breaks out into a sort of incrustation 
on similar lines. This peculiarity is truly transmitted 
through the spores, and as the late Mr. E. J. -Lowe 
demonstrated by a very large number of crosses, can be 
imparted to other varieties by conjoined sowing, not, it 
must be said, always to their advantage, since in our 
opinion a little chamber of horrors might be contrived by a 
selection of many of these. Then we have the medio- 
deficiens type in Athyvium, L. filix mas, and P. angulave, in 
which the minor divisions of the pinnae next the midrib are 
either absent or represented by little thorns, their aborted 
midribs. This character, as a rule, puts the fern decidedly 
outside the ranks of the elite, but by no means always, 
provided it be on regular and symmetrical lines. An 
Athyviuin found by us as a seedling at the roadside in 
Wigtonshire has this character clearly shewn in the pinnae, 
as well as the frond, with a pretty result ; and some of the 
lineare sections of P. angulave partake of this character, and 
yet are quite eligible fjr select collections. A number 
of quite independent sports of Lady Ferns of this kind 


58 

have been found. There are, however, a few of the" curio " 
tribe which are simply ugly, appearing to be affected with 
a genius for going wrong in their structure. A form of 
Lastvea found by Mr. Phillips in Ireland, L.f. m. monstvosa, 
seems unable to perfect any of its parts ; and it is recorded 
of another find of this description, of which, nevertheless, 
the discoverer was very proud (this was in the old days, 
before the reformation), which being shewn, we believe, to 
Col. Jones without his being adequately impressed, the 
finder said : " Ah ! but you should have seen it last season, 
when there was not a single bit of it right.'' Near Aber- 
feldy, a few years ago, we found a large bushof ^lale Fern 
of this type, but it is doubtless there still. 

Among the "curios" representing peculiarly eccentric 
departures from the normal plan of growth, that wonderful 
Lady Fern, A.f.f. VictovicB ranks as facile pvinceps. The 
phenomenon of cruciation, or the formation of crosses, by the 
juxtaposition of opposite twin pinnae or pinnules set on at 
a wide angle to each other, is not common. It has been 
found in P. annulare (P. ang. Wakeleyanum), in which it, 
however, only partially affects the fronds, and in our own 
find of A, f. f. cvuciatum in Devonshire, in which the 
character is fairly evidenced both in the pinnae and the 
pinnules, but in Victories it is so thoroughly brought out 
that the fronds are like slender pieces of lattice work, and 
the pinnae are composed of tiny crosses on like lines 
throughout. To add to this marvel, long, slender, pendulous 
tassels ornament the tips of frond and twin pinnae, consti- 
tuting it an absolutely unique form in all the world. Here 
we have a "curio" of such a thoroughbred nature as to 
entitle it to the foremost place of honour in every 
collection. The opinion has been expressed that the twin 
pinnae are due to abortion of all but the two basal pinnules 
of the pinnae proper, and that these are consequently 
enlarged by concentration of energy and thus assume the 
character of pinnae, which naturally grow at the same 
angle as pinnules would have done and so produce the 


59 

effect described. In this case, however, there is not the 
remotest sign of an aborted midrib as seen in truncate, 
ferns. 

. Another class of "Curios " is seen in the revolvens and 
flexuose types, in which the fronds are either rolled up, 
more or less, into tubes, or are eccentrically twisted. Both 
of these types depart from the general rule that the frond 
surface is arranged to catch as much light as possible, since 
by their curves and twists a large proportion of the frond 
is turned away from the light. Varieties in this direction 
have been found in several species. P. angulareh.3iS afforded 
a number, and we found a good one in Devonshire in 1908. 
L. f. mas has produced, one, and A.f. f. revolvens, found by us 
in Scotland, is a very fine example, the pinnae forming a 
series of ringlets on each side the frond. Flexuose forms 
of A.f. foemina have been found several times, and examples 
have also turned up in Scot, vulgare of both types. ■ The 
" revolvens " are naturally the prettier, and make handsome 
pendulous-fronded specimens. Incidentally, we may 
remark, that a successful cross between revolvens and good 
cristate forms is well worth trying for ; so far, however, 
our own efforts in that direction have been fruitless. 
Curiously enough, in this connection, on our way from 
Windermere Station to Bo'ness some years ago to attend a 
meeting of our Society, we noticed that the Bracken on 
both sides the road was a thoroughbred revolvens type, and 
collecting a frond, we displayed it at the meeting where it 
was much admired, while much amusement was evoked 
when we pointed out that the majority of those present had 
passed it on the road, but failed to " spot " it. 

To finish these notes with a little anecdote somewhat 
.akin to this, it is told by Mr. G. B. WoUaston, that he was 
once accompanying an old lady on a fern hunt in a 
Devonshire lane, when he observed a splendidly crested 
Polystichum, which w^as being tickled by the feathers in the 
old lady's bonnet as she was stooping beneath it to examine 
something else. First sight, first find, is inevitable in fern 


6o 

hunting, and as she was passing on, he had perforce to call" 

her attention to it, and she never forgavehim. The B. P. S» 

was, however, kinder. 

C. T. D. 

THE DECORATIVE VALUE OF OUR 
NATIVE FERNS.^I.- 

The importance of British ferns for purposes of decoration 
is derived from two distinct but highly valuable qualities, 
which many of them possess. They luxuriate in places 
where little else will grow, and they attain — in the case of 
the finer varieties — to a beauty of form which is not easily 
rivalled. The conditions which ferns demand will be best 
realised by passing in review some of their typical haunts. 
Not far from the town of Sligo is a remark-able glen, as it 
is termed, but chasm would be the more suitable word ; 
for a distance of some three-quarters of a mile the limestone 
formation has opened, and the result is a cleft whose sides 
sink, often perpendicularly, to a depth, at the deepest parts^ 
of as much as 40 ft., while the width is only about 30 ft. 
From end to end the glen abounds in the most wonderful 
specimens of the Hartstongue Fern (Scolopendrimn vulgaye} 
that it has ever been my lot to see. Along the bottom they 
grow so close together that, except upon the central path, 
it is difficult to stir without crushing them under foot ; and 
up the sides they climb, making every ledge their own, and 
adorning the whole with a varied wealth of green which is 
almost magical. Here, in addition to the limestone — 
which is a great help, though not a necessity — we find two 
pronounced features, shelter and moisture, and the moisture 
is of the right kind. With the help of the general con- 
formation, and the trees by which it is supplemented, the 
ferns have got for themselves a home where no rude breezes 
come and where the sun's rays are subdued. They have 
also got the moisture which they crave; the drip and trickle 
from innumerable springs finds its way gently down the 

■''^ Reprinted by permission of ''Tlie Guardian." 


6i 

sides : in the few cases where the rock leans forward, so that 
the water cannot rest, no ferns are seen; but wherever the 
sides h'e back, and sufficiently retain the moisture, there 
rich drapery has come. Constant moisture, never stagnant, 
the glen supplies ungrudgingly. Even when the water 
reaches the bottom it cannot stay; the general slope of the 
ground, which is on the side of a mountain, carries it oft 
to the sea. One other important lesson in connection with 
the decorative use of ferns may be learned from this Sligo 
glen — soil is of secondary importance. It is true that 
the growth is taller and more vigorous in the deep 
vegetable mould which has filled up the lower levels — 
the best soil will give the best results — but many a fine 
fern grows where it can have little but shelter and 
moisture for its comfort. Nor is this an isolated pheno- 
menon. One of the most interesting " finds " in my collection 
was taken from a limestone wall beside a public road. The 
wall was built against a hill with a northern aspect. There 
was constant moisture percolating from above, and the aspect 
ensured shelter from the sun, but there was nothing of the 
nature of soil. Nevertheless, from top to bottom the 
masonry was covered with Hartstongues. Similarly, in 
limestone districts, where shelter and moisture are granted, 
disused kilns often become so overgrown as to suggest that 
the real object of their construction w^as to demonstrate 
what Hartstongues can accomplish in the way of decoration- 
Typical fern haunts, which further illustrate the need of 
shelter, are the rifts or clefts, as in the Arran Islands, 
where the Maiden-hair [Adiantum Capillus Veneris) grows, 
and the sea caves are made beautiful by the Sea Spleenwort 
{Asplenium marinnm). I touch them lightly, and hasten on.. 
If the Maiden-hair and Sea Spleenwort are asked to decorate, 
they will only do it under cover. In this paper it is the 
effects that can be got outside that chiefly concern us. 

We take, then, a valley such as may be found in many 
parts of Wales or of Devonshire ; if it is narrow, so much 
the better ; a stream winds along the bottom ; its banks- 


62 

and the steep sides of the boundary hills are clothed with 
trees. Down near the water you may expect to find the 
Lady Fern (Athyvmm Jilix fcemina) growing to perfection. 
Where the current is gentle it seems to take pleasure in 
rising, as it were, from the stream itself. Not far off, but 
seeming to think more of securing the perfection of shelter, 
the Broad Buckler Fern [Lastvea dilatata) rises in seques- 
tered nooks as high perhaps as your shoulder. Splendid 
as are its rivals, when cultivation has developed their graces, 
there are, in my opinion, none which in their native state 
can eclipse the stately beauty of this fern. As we climb 
higher up the sides, a new truth with regard to the places 
ferns will decorate introduces itself. So far we have 
found them prizing shelter and such moisture as is not 
stagnant, and appreciating a deep, light, vegetable soil. 
But look at that road which traverses the side of the valley 
far above the stream. If you examine the hedgerows 
which bound it, you will find them full of fern-life. Some 
whose acquaintance we have already made will be there, 
though very different in size and vigour ; but now the 
Male Fern (Lastvea filix mas) and the Shield Ferns (Poly- 
stichum aculeatuin and Polystichum angularc) become the 
prominent feature. It is not only in hedgerows that they 
flourish ; all through the woods, particularly where groups 
of stones offer specially tempting homes, and in natural 
hollows, the Buckler and the Shield Ferns salute us with 
vigour of growth and symmetry of form. From the places 
in which we find them, it is plain that in their case we may 
dispense with a good deal of the moisture which the Harts- 
tongue and the Lady Ferns demand, and plainly they are 
even less particular as to compost, being able to give good 
account of themselves in any ordinary soil. Like the 
others, they ask shelter and they abhor stagnant moisture. 

There is one other fern which imperatively demands 
.notice when the subject of outdoor decoration is upper- 
most — the Common Polypody {PoJypodiuin vtdgare). If 
.the decoration of the greenhouse or the furnishing of the 


63 

■choice outdoor fernery were in question it would be 
pleasant to include such gems as the Oak, the Beech, and 
the Limestone Polypodies (P. dvyoptevis ; P. phc^wpteris ; 
P. Rohertiaimm or calcaveuni). But we are in search of 
decoration under ordinary open-air conditions ; and we 
want in particular ferns that are easy to please, as well as 
'fair to see. Beyond all the rest the Common Polypody, 
including its beautiful varieties, has power to give what 
we ask. It is, perhaps, more widely distributed than any 
of our native ferns, but if we are to understand properly 
what it can accomplish we must visit such localities as the 
County Cork, where it abounds, and attains to perfection. 
See that old domain wall, how the Polypody has possessed 
■it. Whole roods of it are coped with the waving green of 
the fern. Where trees give shade, there the growth is 
most luxuriant, but even in full exposure to sun and wind 
the Polypody holds its own. If you pass inside and 
examine the lower courses of the wall, and the moss- 
covered ground at its base, there you will find great fronds 
fifteen, eighteen, and even more inches long, These, how- 
ever, are conditions under which all our decorative' ferns 
will grow. What we seek in the Polypody is capabilities 
all its own. Therefore we turn from the bottom of the 
wall and look up, to find branch after branch of the great 
forest trees turned into attractive natural ferneries by the 
enterprising aspirations of our fern. Thus we have a fern 
which, if it give its best results when shaded from full sun, 
•can nevertheless be induced to face both sun and wind ; so 
much we learn from the flourishing growth along the top 
of the wall. The happiness of the colonies in the trees 
further teaches that for considerable periods water may be 
withheld. A single feature remains to the Polypody in 
-common with all the ferns that have been visited. Like 
the rest, it will have nothing to do with stagnant moisture. 
Iln the treatment of all ferns good drainage, as the gar- 
ideners call it, is essential. 

H. KiNGSMILL MoORE. 

'{To he continued.) 


64 

SOME ANCIENT USES AND BELIEFS IN 

FERNS. 

By Wm. E. Farrer. 

Ferns, apart from their graceful forms and glorious greeni 
foliage, contain medicinal and other properties. We read 
of days long passed, when the ancient Arabian and Persian 
physicians used the Cetevach officinavum very largely for 
splenic disorders. Likewise, in other foreign lands, from, 
time immemorial, ointments, lotions, and other forms of 
healing concoctions, have been obtained from certain 
portions of their ferns. But it is not my purpose here to^ 
write of foreigners, but simply briefly on our own British 
ferns. 

Two of our commonest species, namely Lastvea filix 
mas (Male Fern) and Pteris aquilina (the common Bracken),, 
especially the first mentioned, are credited with being cures 
for intestinal worms, on account of their astringent 
qualities ; many others of our ferns have the like properties 
in a less degree, principally contained in their stems. 

The Royal, or flowering fern, Osmunda regalis, is, or was, 
used for the healing of sprains and bruises, in the form of 
an appHcation. From the Adiantum Capillus Veneris (the 
British Maiden-hair fern) and other A diantums, the soothing 
drink " Capillaire " is made by pouring boiling syrup upon> 
the green fronds, and then flavouring the fluid by adding 
orange flower water ; if this concoction be taken too strong,, 
it is believed to be somewhat of an emetic. 

The common Adder's Tongue fern (Ophioglossnm vnlgatiim) 
was, and may be to the present day, frequently made up 
into an ointment by our country folk, and as an external 
salve in case of newly contracted wounds. What the 
exact healing properties are I know not, but faith, fresh 
air, and a good constitution, combined with what cured 
one's grandfather w^ho lived to the advanced age of ninety — 
and who had suff'ered from some terrible lacerated wound, 
and when all other methods failed, was eventually cured. 
by this application — the same will surely cure you. 


65 

Alkali is most prevalent in the Bracken {Ptcris aqnilina) 
and the Male Fern [Lastvea filix mas), and was used in 
the manufacture of soap and glass, and the dressing of 
leather. Beer also has been made from a preparation of 
these two ferns. The bracken in some parts of our land 
is cut, dried, and stacked, and then used for the bedding 
of horses and cattle in a similar manner to straw. The 
very young fronds of this fern, when just raising their 
crosier-like heads above the soil, are, I am told, most 
palatable, and much resemble asparagus in flavour. 

The common Moonwort [Botvychium lunavia) was much 
thought of in centuries long gone by, by the alchemists 
and professors of magic, and the like. We often read in 
old works and manuscripts, what strange and wonderful 
power was attributed to this little fern, with its crescent- 
shaped leafy pinnae. Hear what Cole has to say about it : 
*' It is said, yea and believed by many, that the INIoon- 
wort will open locks wherewith dwelling houses are made 
fast, if it be put into the keyhole ; as also that it will loosen 
the locks, fetters, and shoes from those horses' feet that 
goe on the places where it groweth." And of this 
opinion was Master Culpeper, who though he railed 
against superstition in others, yet had enough of it him- 
self, as may appear by his story of " the Earl of Essex, 
his horses, which, being drawne up in a body, many of them 
lost their shoes upoQ White Down, in Devonshire, neer 
Tiverton, because Moonwort grows upon the heaths." 

Turner, in his *' British Physician," published in the year 
1687, says, "■ that this fern is neither farrier, smith, or 
picklock," but believes in its medicinal properties, and also 
that it is the moon's herb." 


THE JONES AND FOX COLLECTION IN 
THE CLIFTON ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 

Following a flying visit when passing through Bristol, 
I persuaded our Editor to join me in a week-end at Clifton, 
in itself a most delightful spot, the romantic scenery from 


66 


the Downs along the valley of the Avon being sufficient 
to repay the journey. Our quest, however, was the 
Zoological Gardens, best known to British fern lovers as 
the repository of the extensive collection of British ferns 
formed by the late Colonel Jones, and many of the; 
varieties raised by Dr. Fox. The gardens have been for 
many years under the care of Mr. H, Harris, by whom, 
we were received with the greatest courtesy. Twenty-four 
years ago Mr. Druery had met Mr. Harris when staying at 
Colonel Jones' house on the occasion of delivering a lecture^ 
on "Ferns " to the British Naturalists' Society at Clifton, and 
it was very gratifying to have been the means of bringing 
together again two such enthusiastic veterans after the 
lapse of so many years. The interesting Zoological 
collection was duly inspected, but our minds inclined to- 
captives of a more peaceful order, and neither tigers' 
stripes nor leopards' spots could keep us Long from matters 
horticultural. 

The gardens contain, amongst many other interesting 
subjects, a fine collection of hollies, and many specimens 
of trained trees and shrubs, interspersed with fine clumps- 
of rhododendrons, v/hilst the terrace walk fronting the 
New Lion House was gaily decked with beds of Begonias 
in fall splendour skirted by specimen palms, pictures of 
health, grown in large tubs. The lake, with its grass fore- 
ground, picturesque island and back-ground of shrubs, the 
home of numerous domesticated water-fowl, is a very 
attractive feature. Mr. Harris's house adjoins the entrance 
from the Downs, and in a sheltered nook, and right under 
the master's eye was a bed of grand specimens of many 
of the Plumose section of Polystichum angiilave, raised by 
the late Colonel Jones and Dr. Fox. An A.f.f. Clavissima 
raised by apospory by the Editor from the late Colonel 
Jones' original plant found by Moule, a curious Scolo- 
pendyiiim vulgare, cvisptun covnuium, and many other choice 
and rare things were noted here. 

On leaving this spot we were conducted to the first of 


67 

the Scolopendviiim beds, and here one was constrained to 
hold one's breath, for rarely has one the opportunity of 
seeing such a magnificent group of finely-developed plants. 
Cvispiims as large as bushel baskets were there in endless 
variety, together with forms of capitatum, grandiceps, ramosum, 
saggittatuni, pvojectum, mavginatuin, mnvicatum, and others, 
amongst which were fine examples of Saggittato pvojectum,. 
one in which the pinnatifid cutting extended almost to the 
midrib, and another a perfect vevolvens. This bed led, 
by a continuation of narrow beds and smaller bays still 
filled with examples of choice Scolopendrinms, to the collection 
of Polysti chums. Here we found treasures innumerable, 
mostly consisting of divisions of original finds ; one, an 
original division of Polysticlmm acideatiim pulchevvimunt' 
(Beavis), still remained a single crown, which is quite 
contrary to its normal habit, as it usually produces offsets 
with great freedom. There were also P. a«^. gvandiceps, Ab- 
hottcB^P. ang. I veryanum 3.nd /I abellipiuulitm, in splendid form, 
and divisolohe, acutilobe, tvipinnate, bvachiate, and other types 
associated with the names of Dr. Wills, Moly,. Clapham, 
Lowe, Stansfield, Mapplebeck, Jones, Fox and Wollaston, 
and many others of a past generation of fern hunters ; and, 
lastly, a grand group of that Plumose section which will 
ever be associated with the names of the late Colonel Jones- 
and Dr. Fox. Amongst these were specimens exhibited 
and certificated at the great Fern Conference held at 
Chiswick in 1891. This section, the most beautiful of any, 
is particularly interesting to the writer, as the parent plant,. 
from which it is descended, passed into his possession 
with Mr. James Moly's collection. One cannot help 
observing how certain ferns have asserted their potency, 
transmitting: to succeeding generations their roguish 
tendencies, which it seems impossible to breed out. 
Amongst the Polystichums, Jones' Hampshire polydactylum 
seems to have been the principal offender. It crosses freely 
with other varieties, usually producing irregular offspring. 
The next bed contained the collection of Lastreas, most 


68 


of the plants consisting of gigantic clumps, which have 
remained undivided for many years. All the best varieties 
were represented, the " King " of the Alale Ferns again and 
again asserting his regal presence, Bollanda exhibiting 
its depauperate character in an otherwise beautiful plant. 
Padley's depanperata, in all its robust ugliness, together 
with Polydactylas of Wills and lsl2i^\)\ehQck, pendens^ vevolvens^ 
Pindeyii, Bavnesi, Wright's vamossissima, and many others too 
numerous to particularise. The last group embraced the 
Athyriums, and whilst the specimens themselves were very 
fine, the varieties w-ere such as used to delight the hearts 
of the early collectors and cultivators, none of the improved 
varieties raised during the last twenty years having been 
added. The old Axminster phimosum was in frequent 
evidence, while suhplumosums, crested, cruciate, setigerum, 
and other forms were plentifullly represented. The ease 
-with which varietal forms can be raised, and the lack of 
severely repressive measures in early days, doubtless 
accounts for the endless numbers of indifferent crested 
forms, which in those of the Cvaigii parentage predominate. 
When at length our stomachs sought a quarrel with our 
throats, we adjourned for lunch, with the promise of an 
inspection of the reserve beds and seedlings to follow. 
After a rest and a brief courtship of " My Lady Nicotine," 
we resumed our quest and were rewarded by further 
discoveries. Alany seedlings of great promise were noted 
for future observation, and at length weary in body, and 
with minds surfeited, we adjourned to our quarters to 
rest and talk over the day's doings. 

The next morning broke dull and showery, but we 
were tempted to return to the scene of the previous day's 
exploits, and after another quiet look round and having 
inspected some of Mr. Harris' dried fronds, we left the 
gardens to make a call on Miss Jones, daughter of Colonel 
Jones. 

When delivering a lecture on ferns and fern-growing 
at Clifton in 1885, our Editor had been most hospitably 


69 

entertained by the late Colonel Jones. He was anxious 
now to ascertain the fate of an interesting form of Ptevis 
aquilina, the pinnai tips of which were rolled up into balls 
and hung like bunches of grapes, and which was then 
strongly established in the front garden. When unrolled 
it was found to be thoroughly crested, a more curious 
than beautiful combination, but particularly interesting 
as a cross between P. aq. glomevata and P. aq. cvistata. 
Miss Jones received us most kindly, and amongst other 
things, explained the process of printing the nature prints, 
distributed by the late Colonel Jones amongst the members 
of the old and original Pteridological Society. 

Alas for the vanity of earthly things. The Ptevis had 
gone the way of many choice things. Miss Jones, however, 
offered to show us a few of the late Colonel Jones' special 
favourites, which were growing in the garden of a relative 
near by. We gladly accepted the invitation, and great 
was our reward. Amongst the many gems we found 
specimens of many original finds of Moly, Wills and 
others, but chief among them, the original^././. Clavissima 
— compared with which those raised by apospory sink into 
insignificance. With erect fronds five feet long, and fully 
two feet wide, it presented a most graceful outline, being 
quite devoid of the twist which appears in the fronds of 
all its aposporous offspring. 

When discovered, the plant possessed two crowns, one 
of which passed into the possession of the late Mr. 
Wollaston, by whom it was grown in a cool house, and 
attained magnificent dimensions. It was from one of the 
fronds of this that the late Colonel Jones prepared his 
nature print. 

The Clifton collection, whilst probably unrivalled in 
some respects, contains no examples of Polypodium vulgare, 
Lastveas nwntana and dilatata, Blechnnm spicant, or Osinuiida, 
nor did we find Polypodium dvyoptcvis, P. phegoptevis, As- 
pleniummarinum, Asp. adiantioii nigrum, Asp. tvichonianes, Ptevis 
aquilina, Adiantwn capillus venevis, or Cystoptevis, amongst 


70 

which are some of the most beautiful varieties of British 
Ferns. The whole collection was, however, in the most 
robust health, not a " livery " specimen amongst them, and 
the dimensions to which some of the clumps had attained 
was indeed a revelation, indicating what can be accom- 
plished by skilful cultivation and suitable environment. 

The next day being fine we determined to go on a ramble 
through the Leigh Woods, in search of varieties, though 
the country near Clifton is not rich in ferns. On our way 
we skirted the walls of the gardens, on which we discovered 
some delightful little crested specimens of Scolopendvium 
vulgare which, however, could not be regarded as wild 
finds, having in all probability grown from spores escaped 
from the garden. They were, however, owing to the height 
of the wall, secured with some difficulty, the writer posing 
as Atlas and the Editor as the Universe. 

In the woods we iound Folypodiuin vulgare in plenty on the 
trunks and stumps of oak trees, but no varieties. De- 
scending to the river side, the face of the cliff was dotted in 
fair abundance with Aspleniiiin viita muvavia, and occasional 
specimens of Cetevach officinavum. A frugal lunch at a way- 
side inn, a trip upon the electric tram to Brislington, the 
home of the late Dn Fox, and a return to our hotel con- 
cluded a most enjoyable visit, the fruits of which adorn my 
fernery, affording bright promise of delights in store. 

W. B. Cranfield. 


SPRING TREATMENT OF HARDY FERNS. 

When this issue of the " Gazette " reaches its subscribers 
it will be the best time of the year for the dividing, repot- 
ting and general overhauling of their collections, since after 
the long winter's rest the plants are in the best condition 
to withstand such operations with the least detriment. This 
is partly due also to the fact that the new season's fronds, 
under quite cold treatment, are still comfortably packed up 
in the crowns of ferns of the shuttlecock persuasion, while 
any damage which may result to the old ones of evergreen 


71 

species is soon rectified by the appearance of a new batch. 
It may, however, be remarked in this connection that 
green fronds should be preserved as far as possible, only 
dead ones being removed, since such green foliage un- 
doubtedly contributes something to the vigour of growth of 
their successors. In the open, too, the old frondage, even 
the dead and shrivelled debris of deciduous ferns, forms a 
natural protection to the crowns, and if removed for tidi- 
ness sake should be replaced by a liberal mulching of leaf 
soil. This is advisable for the reason that the new fronds, 
as they rise, and even as a preliminary to rising, produce 
individually little bundles of roots from their bases, which 
may be seen emerging from and creeping down the sides of 
the projecting caudices or root-stocks on their way to the 
soil, and given a spell of March winds, dry and keen, these 
may well be checked and perhaps destroyed by exposure, 
which the old debris prevents. Under glass, of course, 
there is less risk of this, but even there this habit of growth 
should be borne in mind. Treating still of the crown- 
forming ferns. Lady Ferns, Lastreas and Polystichtints, all 
these have a tendency to propagate themselves, either by 
fission of their crowns or by the production of lateral offsets, 
which in time form bush-like growths in lieu of single 
crowns. The disadvantageous result of this is two-fold : 
firstly, the fronds in such case cannot possibly display their 
full beauty, since they become mixed up and often dis- 
torted ; and, secondly, owdng to the competitionfor root room 
they become dwarfed and cannot attain half the size and 
development of character that a single isolated crown is 
capable of assuming. Hence, if really fine specimens are 
desired, plants of more than one crown should now be 
divided, the best plan being to fork them up bodily, when 
it will be found that they can be readily coaxed apart, each 
crown coming away with its independent roots and 
easily establishing itself anew when replanted. Where, as 
is generally the case with Lady Ferns, these crowns have 
been produced, not by offsets, but by splitting of the 


72 

crowns in the centre, the subsequent growth producing a 
sort of Siamese twin connection, a sharp knife may be 
used to start the separation, until it is found that the crowns 
yield to pressure and come freely away as in the other 
cases. In doing this care should be taken not to squeeze 
the upper parts in which the new fronds are packed, but to 
confine the pressure to the vicinity of the initial cut. As 
many of the best varieties of Polystichum form bulbils on 
the fronds near the bases, it is well when removing even 
the dead fronds to look out for these as a means of propa- 
gation, since they retain vitality long after the rest of the 
frond has perished. 

Repotting should not be done unless really necessary. 
Well-established single crown specimens do well for years 
together in fair-sized pots or pans, if mulched occasionally 
with a little fresh soil. We have in our collection a 
remarkable instance of this. It must be close on thirty 
years ago we installed a crested Lady Fern in a cork 
receptacle, formed of a roofing slate, about two feet by one, 
with a large piece of curved cork, pierced with holes here 
and there and secured to the slate by copper wire, another 
smaller piece of curved cork being secured to the bottom to 
retain the soil. That fern is as robust as ever, though the 
soil has never been renewed but only replenished by a 
handful or so of soil every few years. Sundry small ferns 
have appeared in the holes aforesaid and do equally well. 
Ferns with travelling root-stocks, like the Polypodies, are 
also best left alone if in good condition. To increase them 
is easy, any piece of rhizome, with a frond or two and a 
growing tip, is sure to establish itself. Ferns, on the other 
hand, which are out of condition should be turned out and 
repotted, all dead matter being removed, and as small a pot 
used as will contain them. Let the pots be well drained 
and a careful look-out be kept for worms and grubs, 
especially the white curved maggots of the Weevil, which, 
with Hartstongues in particular, is very destructive, the 
maggots devouring the roots and crowns during the winter 
and the beetle the fronds during the growing season. 

C. T. D. 


AMERICAN FERNS. 

There are more than 300 Species of Fernworts 
in the United States and Canada, and an immense 
number of varieties. A majority of British ferns 
are among the number. Read what the Americans 
have found out about them in 

Zbc ifetn Bulletin, 

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 

Many new Species and Forms have been 
described and illustrated in its pages. 

Annual Subscription, 3s. post free. 

A Set of the 13 Volumes still in print will 
be sent for 36 shillings, post free. 

Sample Copy for a Penny Stamp, 
Six Different Numbers for One Shilling. 


Address— WILLARD N. CLUTE 8c Co., Joliet, III., U.S.A. 


= FERNS. ^= 

* * * 

H« B. MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sizes, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

¥ * * 

stove, 6recnDou$e, and otDer Plants 
. . .are also laracip groton. . . . 

* * * 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants can be had post free 
upon application to — 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDMONTON. 


VOL. 1. No. 4. 


. . . Zbc ... 

JBritieb jTern 
©a3ette» 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


3une, 1910. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

(Secretary: Mr. G. WHIT WELL, Serpentine Cottage), 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


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THE 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 


Vol. I. 


JUNE, igio. 


CONTENTS. 

Editorial Note 

The August Meeting 

Our Frontispiece .. 

Plumose Variation in Ferns 

Cystopteris Fragilis Sempervirens .. 

Raising Lastrea Montana from Spores 

Seed Bearers and Spore Bearers 

The Late Mr. James Moly 

Apospory 

The Decorative Value of Our 

The Book of British Ferns 

List of Members 


No. 4. 


Native Ferns. No. 2 


page. 
73 
74 
75 
76 

79 
80 

83 

86 

87 
91 
94 
94 


EDITORIAL NOTE. 

In this issue the Editor is again glad to include some 
contributions from members, though he would be more 
gratified if these were more numerous in view of the large 
increase of membership due to the establishment of the 
" Gazette." He also hopes that now the season is in 
full swing he may receive fronds or photos of fresh 
acquisitions either from fern hunters or fern raisers ; 
accompanied by stamps for return postage in case of need. 
The list of members, with their addresses, given at the end 
of this issue should be of value, and it is to be hoped will 
be largely extended by the present members calling the 
attention of their fern-loving friends to the existence of the 
Society, and the publication of the " Gazette," a specimen 
copy of which will be willingly sent to any one likely to 
join. The annual subscription of 5s., payable either to the 


74 

Secretary or the Editor, entitles to membership and four 
issues of the " Gazette," concerning which all communi- 
cations should be addressed to the Editor, ii, Shaa Road, 
Acton, London, W. He also calls special attention to the 
August meeting, particulars of which are given below. 

Editor. 


THE AUGUST MEETING. 

It has been the custom for the members of the British 
Pteridological Society to hold their Annual Meeting on the 
August Bank Holiday, at which meeting the Report and 
Balance-Sheet of the Society are produced, any necessary 
resolutions passed and the place of the next annual meeting 
determined. Advantage is also taken of this meeting to 
display fronds or plants of new fern varieties for judging 
and naming, and to organize one or more fern-hunting 
expeditions in the locality in conjunction therewith. Such 
of the members who can manage to arrive on the Friday 
at the rendezvous, which will be determined beforehand, 
will have thus a good opportunity of familiarizing them- 
selves with the ferns of the neighbourhood, and it rarely 
happens that such expeditions are undertaken without good 
results in the way of wild finds. For many years the 
meetings were held at Bo'ness, Windermere, but eventually 
it was thought desirable that other ferny localities should 
be visited, especially Devon , where a large number of species 
was available and in greater abundance, but this idea still 
remains in abeyance, though a change of scene was effected 
by a fixture in Ireland, where, however, the attendance was 
too scanty to encourage further trips in that direction. 
Last year, therefore, it was determined to hold the meeting 
next August Bank Holiday at Moffat in Dumfriesshire, 
as being not only in a district where ferns abound, but also 
within comparatively easy reach of those resident in English 
lakeland and Scotland. Our president, Mr. Alexander 
Cowan, has very kindly visited Moffat and made, the 
necessary encpairies as to accommodation, and we are 


75 

happy to state that this can he obtained on satisfactory 
and economical lines, while a trip of a mile or so will bring 
the members into the midst of ferns of many species, and 
in a district which is practically virgin. Fuller particulars 
will be issued beforehand by the Committee, including the 
rendezvous aforesaid, but meanwhile it is to be hoped that 
a good number of members will book the outing as an 
engagement, and endeavour to reach Moffat on Friday, 
29th July, so as to profit by the visit to the utmost. In this 
way the members have an opportunity of making or 
improving each others' acquaintance, comparing notes as 
regards their collections, possibly arranging exchanges to 
mutual advantage, and all this combined with the chances 
of fresh discoveries on new and promising ground. 

Editor. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

ASPLENIUM TRICHOMANES INCISO-CRISPUM ClEMENTII. 

We have much pleasure in reproducing a photograph of 
this very remarkable form of Asp. tvichomanes, which differs 
from and surpasses all the other incisum or plumose forms of 
this species so far found. It is in the possession of Messrs. 
Bolton Bros, of Warton, near Carnforth, and was found 
some years ago by Mr. W. Clement in a crevice in an old 
wall facing the east, and in association with many of the 
normal type at Vealand Conyers, Carnforth. The photo- 
graph, for which and for the loan of the block we are 
indebted to Messrs. Bolton Bros., shows that the pinnae 
are not merely much expanded and deeply cut as with 
other incisiims but are prettily crisped and set on to the 
midrib much more densely, constituting an absolutely 
unique form of the species. When found it was a tiny 
plant with i^ inch fronds, but has now fronds of nearly a 
foot in length, but entirely barren, indicating its true 
plumose character. 


76 

PLUMOSE VARIATION IN FERNS.* 

As the plumose or extra feathery varieties of Ferns are 
universally recognised as the most beautiful, since being 
purely extensions of normal growth, they are not open to the 
objection sometimes raised that other forms of variation are 
" monstrous," a little consideration of their nature may not 
be out of place. As a typical form we may take the so- 
called Welsh Polypody [Polypodium viilgare camhvicum), a 
very old variety. The normal frond of the species consists 
of a stalk flanked on either side by a series of smooth -edged 
somewhat blunt-ended lobes, about one-third inch wide, 
and on robust plants one and a-half inches long, the stalk 
forming roughly one-third of the frond length. At the 
back of these lobes there are bright yellow spore heaps, 
round, and of exceptionally large size, and the spores them- 
selves are yellow, and also much larger than those of most 
ferns. In the Welsh Polypody, however, we find a very 
different formation, the normal smooth-edged narrow lobes 
or pinnae are transformed into deeply cut wide ones with 
long pointed segments, an inch long or more, set closely 
together, with the result that these pinnae overlap, and as 
they are also longer than the normal the frond is very much 
wider and, indeed, has no resemblance at all to the normal 
species, even the texture being thin and papery. Another 
difference is that spores never appear, the fronds are invari- 
ably barren and it is this feature, conjoined with the extra 
foliose character, which distinguishes the true plumosums 
of all s[)ecies. It would appear that it is this absence of 
spore producing capacity which determines the extra leafy 
development, for if we examine the veins of P. vnlgave 
normal we find that a certain number of them, starting from 
the midrib, stop abruptly half-way across, and at this point 
serve to form and feed a spore heap, and this, like all repro- 
ductive action, concentrates in itself a large amount of vital 
energy. In P. v. camhvictun most of the veins continue, and 
the few of them which stop half way produce no sorus but 

•■- By permission of the Gardeners' Magazine. 


merely determine a deeper cut, and hence not only are no 
spores produced, but the energy, which their production 
would have absorbed, is free to be devoted to forming and 
feeding a leafier development. A proof that this is, so to 
speak, the modus operandi is seen in the plumose or crispum 
Hartstongues. The true thoroughbred crispum is as 
barren as P. v. cambvicuni, and as a result forms a deeply 
and regularly frilled frond, but there are some crispums 
termed fertile ones, in which irregular patches of spores 
are produced, and it invariably happens that where the 
spores appear on the frond back, the development of the 
frill is affected, and the edges, instead of being regular, are 
irregular and crenate. The veins in short cannot perform 
both functions completely, and the one must be at the 
expense of the other. As compared with the cristate varia- 
tions, the plumose ones, especially the true plumosums, i.e. 
perfectly barren ones, are very rare. In the Poly podium 
family, besides P. v. camhriciim, of which, by the way, there 
are several distinct forms besides the old one, viz. Bavrowi^ 
Hadivinii, and last, but best, Prestonii, we have Phlehodiiim 
{Polypodiiim) aureum Mayii, which originated in Mr. H. B. 
May's Nursery at Edmonton, and P. (?) Knightii, an exact 
reproduction of the Cambricum form in a very large grow- 
ing exotic species, unfortunately not specified in the name 
given. 

In the Lastreas we have several plumose forms of 
L. montana, but none of the other species except L. /. ;;;. 
BoUandae, an imperfect form. In the Asplenium family we 
have A. triclwmanes incisnm, found several times, perfectly 
barren and imitating P. v. camhvicum as much as a small 
growing Spleenwort can. In the Nephrolepis we have 
N. vufesccns tvipinnatifida, another sport on the same lines 
of extra leafiness and barrenness. That magnificent 
Maidenhair Ad. Farley ense is a thoroughbred plumose 
form of Ad. scutum, as we once saw a specimen shewing 
reversion to that species in several fronds. Taking 
perfect barrenness as a feature, these are all the true 

B 


78 

plumosums we can call to mind, but outside these there is 
a considerable number of plumose forms so called from 
their beautiful feathery character, which is, however, due 
rather to abnormal subdivision than to actual extra leafi- 
ness, and upon these varieties spores are engendered, in 
some cases rarely and in others constantly, though never 
in the same abundance as with the normal forms. Thus in 
the wonderful range of plumose Polystichnms, several have 
been reputed barren but erroneously, since instead of easily 
visible spore heaps, a careful examination with a strong 
lens has disclosed the existence of solitary sporangia or 
spore pods. It is thus with P. ang. pi. Pateyii and that 
beautiful form of P. aculeaium known as P. ac. pnlchevvimum. 
In this connection there is no doubt that abnormal seasonal 
conditions may induce fertility only at rare intervals, and 
thus confirm a wrong impression as to complete infertility. 
All the plumose Athyria known to us bear spores, and in 
view of the principle above enunciated that extra leafiness 
is at the expense of the fruit, a familiar axiom with fruit 
growers proper, it is a peculiar fact that some of the most 
plumose Athyria not only bear spores, it is true, in a some- 
what imperfect way as regards the sorus formation, but also 
produce numerous bulbils associated with them. It is, 
however, conceivable that bulbils, despite their larger size, 
do not tax the vital vigour of the plant so heavily as spore 
heaps proper, and are the result of a check in the production 
of such, and a transmutation of the diverted energy. The 
superficial area of a plumose frond of this description is 
also much greater than that of a normal frond, and this 
naturally means extra chlorophyllic action, which may 
serve as an additional vegetative stimulus. None of the 
perfectly barren plumosums bear crests or terminal tassels, 
but there are numerous examples of tasselled plumosums 
of the partially fertile kind, and it has been found that 
uncrested wild finds of this type have yielded finely crested 
progeny from their spores under conditions which preclude 
the idea of crossing with crested forms. The study of the 


79 

veins of plumose varieties leads to the conclusion that a 

free venation is a sine quel non, since the extra foliose 

character peculiar to the section is entirely due to the 

lengthening of free veins beyond normal limits, carrying as 

it were tissues with them. A reticulate or netted venation 

with anastomosing veins could hardly permit of similar 

extension. As regards the origin of plumose varieties 

we are entirely in the dark. Phlehoditim aureum Mayii 

originated, as w^e have said, under culture, and indubitably 

from a chance spore derived from a normal plant ; the 

others named were all, we believe, found wild, but must, 

it is obvious, have originated in the same way, i.e. from a 

5pore from a normal plant, which was either subtly affected 

when it was shed, or produced a prothallus, whereon the 

formative or reproductive cells were affected in such a way 

that the resulting fern was barren and foliose by correlation. 

It is recorded with regard to Scol. v. cvispum, the plumose 

Hartstongue, that Col. Jones found no less than twenty-nine 

separate specimens in one locality, and most of them in one 

lane in S. Wales, and this would tend to prove that the 

spores of an otherwise normal plant in the vicinity were 

affected as above, as it is obvious that all were otherwise 

independent sports. 

C. T. D. 


CYSTOPTERIS FRAGILIS SEMPERVIRENS. 

In Mr. E. J. Lowe's "Our Native Ferns" this fern is 
mentioned as foUow^s : "Said to have been found at 
Tunbridge Wells and in Devonshire. A native of 
Madeira, and perhaps a distinct species. Some obscurity 
hangs over it as a British plant." In 1906, however, I 
received fronds from a plant which was found wild in 
Scotland, in Corrie Clanmor, by Mr. William Young, of 
Kirkcaldy, and as these fronds had been gathered in a 
green and healthy condition in the winter from a quite 
cold frame, in which the ordinary C. fvagilis . had died 


8o 

down months before, I felt immediately convinced that 
C. f. sempevvivens was thus established as a British plant, 
and obtaining ^Ir. Young's permission, through the late 
Mr. R. Somerville, who had sent me the fronds, I scattered 
the spores freely inside a Wardian case. The result was 
a considerable number of plants, all of which have proved 
their distinctness, winter after winter, by remaining not 
only perfectly evergreen, but practically growing all the 
year through. It is a robust grower, but not otherwise 
dissimilar to C. fvagilis in make. So far, its fronds do not 
turn brown, as those of C. fvagilis are apt to do. It was 
found apparently some few years prior to my acquaintance 
with it, and it is only recently that I came across the late 
Mr. Somerville's letter, which has induced me to put the 
m.atter thus on record in the " Gazette." 

C. T. D. 

RAISING LASTREA MONTANA FROM 

SPORES. 

As Lastvea montana, or to give it its English names of 
Mountain Buckler Fern or Lemon Scented Fern, grows 
in considerable quantity and in great luxuriance in this 
neighbourhood, and as I find I can grow it equally easily 
and well in my garden, it has always been one of my 
favourites among British ferns, and as I have been 
successful in raising large numbers of seedlings, I have 
great pleasure in complying with the request of the Editor 
to give a short account of my method, in case any members 
who have the means of growing this beautiful fern care to 
try to raise seedlings of it. To begin with, I always select 
soil either from a place where Lastrea monianas are grow- 
ing, or else use pure loam, which I know to be free of lime, 
and which, it is well known, this species dislikes, and I boil 
sufficient soil in an old pan to fill a number of pots ; this I 
find much less trouble and more efficacious than to first fill 
the pots with soil and then pour boiling water through 
them. For pots I use any old glazed dishes, such as cups 


8i 

without handles or any similar receptacle, in which a small 
hole must be made for drainage and to allow of watering 
from beneath; some of my most successful sowings have 
been made in discarded bell-shaped glass gas shades. The 
pot, after being crocked, I till with soil to within an inch of 
the top, and after sowing the spores place it in a saucer of 
water, and put a piece of glass on the top of it in the 
usual way. 

I have tried sowings of montanas both in a warm green- 
house and in a cold one, and I find them to grow well in 
both ; if anything, I think they come quicker in heat, but 
a cold greenhouse, or frame, or even a cool room is quite 
sufficient. The prothalli seem to dislike excessive heat 
unless they are kept sufficiently damp ; on the other hand, 
I have seen them damp off in a curious manner, showing 
that too much moisture is also injurious. As the prothalli 
are much smaller than those of most other species, care 
must be taken at this stage to remove any larger-sized 
prothalli which may appear, as these probably come from 
chance spores of Lastvea dilatata or Athyrium f. f. or other 
stronger growing varieties, which, if they are present in 
•quantity, would choke out the montana owing to their 
more rapid growth. In the case of some pots in which I 
have not taken this precaution I have had no montanas at 
all, but a plentiful crop of numerous other varieties which I 
did not sow intentionally. 

As soon as the seedlings are about an inch in height I 
prick them out into pans or small wooden boxes filled with 
a mixture of loam, peat, leaf-mould and sand in about 
equal proportions which has been passed through a \-m. 
mesh riddle and is then well pressed down and watered. 
These seedlings should be kept in a fairly close atmosphere, 
otherwise they must be covered with sheets of glass until 
the seedlings have taken root, and they must always be 
watered with a fine rose with rain water or water free from 
lime. I find they grow very quickly in a warm green- 
house, and it is most interesting to watch their development, 


S2 

especially those from mixed spores, as some varieties show 
their characteristic features when barely an inch in height^ 
notably so, seedlings from Smithies grandiceps found in 
Kendale, which show their gvandiceps breeding or character 
in the very first fronds they throw up ; seedlings from 
congcsfa are also easily recognisable. When the seedlings 
have been grown a year or two in boxes, I plant them out 
in cold frames into similar but rougher soil. My first lot 
of seedlings planted out in this way a year ago being now 
some of them a foot or more in height, and those worth 
keeping will be planted out in the open in the course of 
this summer. 

This Fern grows, as I have already said, vigorously in 
cultivation, the soil in different parts of my garden appear- 
ing to suit it quite well, the principal requisite for its 
successful cultivation being absence of lime and a situation 
in full day-light, i.e. without overhanging branches of any- 
kind but sheltered from strong winds and with sufficient 
moisture at its roots. It can stand full exposure to sun 
but seems impatient of drought. In its native habitat, the 
caudex and roots of healthy specimens are invariably kept 
cool and moist and sheltered from the sun's rays by either 
a thick covering of mosses and grasses or even common 
ling. 

I venture to think that no lover of ferns who has had the 
pleasure of seeing the unique collection of varietal forms of 
Lastvea montana growing in the garden of Mr. George 
Whitwell, the Secretary of the Society at Kendal, or even 
a bank of several hundred strongly-grown plants on a 
hill-side, can fail to admire the extreme beauty either of its 
habit or colour. Unfortunately, owing either to its 
cultivation not being properly understood or for other 
reasons, very few varieties of it are in commerce, its 
cultivation being confined to a few enthusiastic amateurs, 
and I can only hope that these few hints may be the means 
of inciting members of this Society to try their skilled or 
unskilled hands, as the case may be, at raising seedlings. 


83 

If there be any and they have no means of obtaining 
spores otherwise, I shall be most happy to send mixed 
spores from cay a dozen distinct varieties to any member 
who cares to send me during the summer a stamped 
addressed envelope. 

Valleyfield, Penicuik. Alex. Cowan. 

That Lastvea montanci is equally amenable to ordinary 
garden culture is evidenced by the fact that I have several 
very fine varieties in my garden at Acton, Middlesex, and 
that they established themselves with ease and have grown 
robustly in somewhat sunny positions for se\'eral years. 
The soil is a good yellow friable loam and gravel, and 
except when there has been a specially long period of 
drought, no watering has been needed. Apropos of 
spore sowing of this species, the late Mr. Barnes was very 
successful and attributed this partly to the fact that he 
always sowed his spores on sloping soil. Editor. 


SEED BEARERS AND SPORE BEARERS. 

The Plant world is divided into two great and distinct 
classes, viz. those which propagate themselves by seeds 
and those which produce spores for that purpose. To the 
former class belong all flowering plants, for it is the 
primary object of the flowers to act as adjuncts to the seed 
vessels and, as a rule, attract the insect world, which aids so 
materially in the fertilization of the seeds by the convey- 
ance of the pollen from one flower to another. There are, 
however, many flowering plants which are independent of 
this aid, but in all these we find the decorati\'e part of the 
flower to be reduced to a minimum, and it is only those 
essential parts, the stigmas and stamens, which are mainly 
in evidence. The spore-bearing plants embrace all the sea- 
weeds, fresh water algae and microscopic vegetable life, the 
Lichens and Marchantias which clothe our rocks with 
encrusted verdure, the mosses, the Ferns and Equisetums- 


Sa 

and their allies, and last, but by no means least, the 
immense family of the Fungi or Mushroom tribe. The 
study of evolutionary science has taught us that despite 
the fairly distinct line drawn between seed-bearers and 
spore-bearers, there is no doubt that in the far distant past 
the former were evolved from the latter and certain links 
between the two still survive. Thus, in the Maidenhair 
tree [Salishuria adiantifolia), a true flowering tree, indistin- 
guishable at a distance from full-sized ordinary trees, we 
find leaves perfectly constructed on the lines of the 
Maidenhair Fern, and it has furthermore been demonstrated 
by Japanese botanists that the fertilization of its seed is 
effected in a sort of half-way fashion between that of Ferns 
and flowering plants. 

The Cycads {Cycas revolnta, etc.), like leathery-fronded 
Ferns, form another link in the same way, and in many of 
our Conifers or Fir trees, the strong resemblance to the 
Selaginella tribe in the formation of their foliage, indicates 
a further affinity of origin. Before proceeding to consider 
another link of importance in this connection, we must 
explain the difference between the processes of reproduction 
through the spore and through the seed. Seeds as we 
know vary greatly in size, from extremely small ones like 
those of the Poppy or Lobelia up to huge ones, as big as a 
man's head, in the Cocoa Nuts. One and all, however, 
agree in consisting of a shell, containing a mass of nutri- 
ment in the shape of one or two condensed leaves called 
cotyledons and a germinal point consisting of a rudi- 
mentary root and centre of growth. At this point lies the 
vital centre of the future plant formed by the union of the 
two parental influences originally contained, one in a cell 
of the embryo seed of the mother plant and one in the 
pollen grain which fertilized this seed, and without which 
the seed would have perished but with which it grew and 
developed into a perfect seed, as above described. If now 
we place this seed in the soil under congenial conditions it 
Avill in due course absorb moisture and swell, and the vital 


85 

centre aforesaid being excited into activity the husk will 
be burst, the root grow and protrude and presently the one 
or two cotyledons will emerge and the young plant start 
existence. A spore, on the other hand, is not the result of 
a previous fertilization, it is a mere microscopic cell 
enclosed in a husk without any provision of nutriment in 
the shape of embryo leaves or any definite centre of 
vitality beyond that of the nucleus common to all living 
cells. Such a spore falling on a congenial spot swells and 
bursts its husk in the same way as a seed, but in the 
case of the fungi, instead of producing a fungus like that 
from which it was shed, it merely multiplies itself, the 
resulting cells absorbing nutriment from the material they 
rest upon and forming a rambling network called the 
mycelium, from which eventually spring spore-bearing fungi 
once again. This, at any rate, is the process wath such 
fungi as the Mushroom, of which the so-called " spawn " is 
simply soil pervaded with the mycelium network described. 
The fungus family, however, presents so many variants of 
this process that we can merely cite one particular type to 
demonstrate the principle involved. In the Fern spore, 
however, we reach a higher plane of development, the true 
nature of which was only grasped about sixty years ago, 
and when grasped it was seen that it formed a distinct 
evolutionary link, since before the young fern appeared, 
not only was a seed formed but this seed exactly resembled 
the seeds of recognized flowering plants by being the result 
of fertilization though two distinct organs which were to 
all intents and purposes male and female flowers. In 
Ferns, the spore, instead of producing a wide-spreading 
network or mycelium like the Mushroom, builds up a tiny 
green heart-shaped scale attached to the soil by roothairs, 
and on the under side of this embryo seeds are formed and 
also a number of little sacs, which burst and throw out 
motile bodies, the exact equivalent of pollen grains, which 
find their way to the seed or seeds and fertilize them, upon 
which they act precisely as flower seeds by producing a 


86 

young plant. Here then we clearly see the important link 
above alluded to, though the gap is still a wide one between 
an animated pollen grain (antherozoid), which reaches its 
goal by swimming a fraction of an inch, and an inanimate 
one which has to be transported by bee or breeze to another 
flower at a distance or even only from the stamen of one 
flower to the embryo seed comparatively far away at the 
base of its stigma. This gap is, however, partly bridged in 
the Salishuvia already cited, for in it the pollen grain 
carries the paternal influence only part of the way to the 
embryo seed and then the journey is completed by a 
moving antherozoid of the Fern type. 

C. T. D. 

THE LATE MR. JAMES MOLY. 

We extremely regret to have to announce the death of 
Mr. James Moly in his 85th year, on April 15th last, at 
his residence, Langmoor Manor, Charmouth. Mr. Moly was 
one of the few remaining pioneers of the British Fern cult, 
and stood alone as the discoverer in Dorset, Devon, and 
adjacent counties of no less than about 600 distinct 
varieties of our Native Ferns, a considerable number of 
which were high-class and some absolutely unique. 
For many years he lived the life of a recluse in his mansion, 
surrounded by extensive grounds- in which his acquisi- 
tions and those of others were grown under the great 
advantage of a congenial western climate and experienced 
culture, and it is a fortunate circumstance that although 
his advanced age prevented his collection from being 
properly looked after in recent years, it was acquired prior 
to his death by our member, Mr. \V. B. Cran field, the 
great majority of forms being thus saved, instead of, as 
is so frequently the case, generally distributed and the 
identity and consec^uent great interest of such a collec- 
tion entirely lost." Many of the plants were so old as 
to have almost entirely lost their vitality, but under Mr. 
Cranfield's care and skilful surgical treatment they have 


87 

not only been resuscitated, but in many instances 
increased considerably in number by the operation, For 
many years Mr. Moly was closely associated with the 
late Dr. Wills, his neighbour and fellow-collector, who 
also found a large number of beautiful forms; and it was, 
thanks to the latter that the writer made Mr. IMoly's 
acquaintance many years ago and found, despite his then 
neophyte stage, such a hearty welcome after a few 
testing questions, that his introducer, on his departure with 
sundry precious acquisitions, could not refrain from 
expressing his surprise as well as his pleasure, so true is 
it that " a fellow hobby makes us wondrous kind." By 
Mr. Moly's death a very handsome bequest falls to the 
ancient borough of Lyme Regis, to which, apart from a 
generous gift to the Axminster Cottage Hospital, he left 
Langmoor Manor and the residue of his estate *' to 
promote the educational well-being of the inhabitants, 
such subjects as drawing, painting and modelling to be 
specially encouraged." 

C. T. D. 


APOSPORY. 

Although as far as possible I" desire in this "Gazette" 
to avoid such matter as only the scientific botanist can 
fully grasp, the discovery of Apospory in Ferns presents so 
peculiar an instance of an ordinary amateur student being 
able to contribute a material item to scientific knowledge, 
that I may perhaps be pardoned for describing what it is. 
Shortly stated, it is the direct production upon the fern 
frond of that little green scale, or prothallus, which 
normally is only produced by the agency of the spore, 
and forms the preliminary growth upon which bodies 
analogous to pollen grains and ovaries are generated, 
the young fern resulting from their coaHtion. The steps 
which led up to the discovery are in themselves interesting. 

'■=For clearness sake the writer is compelled to use the first person, 
singular, in this article, as a record of his own personal experiences. 


S8 

In the early eighties, in one of my sowings of Lady Fern 
spores,, two young plants, when less than an inch high, 
produced bulbils on the young fronds, a very rare occur- 
rence, especially in that species. Eventually, strangely 
enough, the two resulting plants turned out to belong to 
two quite different strains. This instance of precocious 
proliferation was put on record in the Horticultural Press, 
with illustrations on a magnified scale, and as a result other 
instances of proliferation were sent to me, and dorsal 
bulbils were noted by me in A . f.f. plumosum divavicaUim. 
In this way a sort of reputation in the bulbil line was 
gained, which eventually led to two very unexpected 
results, since a pinna of A. f.f. plumosum elegans, bearing 
bulbils was sent to me, and the associated spores in that 
identical pinna yielded that marvellously beautiful strain of 
crested and non-crested plumosums known as the Druery 
" superbums," and the other result was the receipt of a 
similar portion of A. f.f. Clarissima Jones, also bearing 
apparent bulbils. On comparing these, however, with 
the others which had come under my notice, I came at 
once to the conclusion that their nature was entirely 
different, and that they were due to some sort of transfor- 
mation of spore-producing energy instead of simple 
proliferation. On layering these and keeping them close, 
instead of developing whitish pimple-like growths, which 
then produced tiny fronds in ordinary bulbil fashion, they 
swelled and threw out transparent root-hairs in all direc- 
tions and then gradually produced indented flattened tips, 
which finally became true prothalli, these prothalli then 
producing young typical ferns in the usual sexual manner. 
I gave an account of this to the Linnean Society, but 
as I could only shew results and not the stages "svhich led 
up to them, and as the phenomenon was entirely new and 
unrecorded in any previous connection, it w^as suggested 
that I should make a fresh experiment and report again. 
I did so after obtaining same results, and on the strength 
of this Professor F. O. Bower took up the matter for deeper 


89 

investigation, and eventually confirmed the discovery 
entirely. On examination he found that the spore heaps 
commenced to form, but at a certain stage aborted, the 
stalks of the spore capsules then producing prothalli, the 
spore itself being entirely eliminated. Immediately on 
this Mr. G. B. WoUaston put forward a form of soft Shield 
Fern (P. angtdave pulchevviumm Padky), in which the extreme 
tips of the frond divisions grew out into prothalli, thus 
cutting out even the spore heaps or any association with 
it. I next noted the same thing in P. ang. pulch. Wills, a 
similar but quite separate find. Next, a tiny seedling of 
Lastrca pseudo mas. cristata, in a Wardian case, was seen to 
bear a prothallus at the frond top, and eventually broke 
out into a rash of them all over the surface, an affection, 
however, which it threw off entirely as it grew up. It 
appears, however, to be in the blood of the family, since 
later on Dr. F. W. Stansfield discovered apospory in 
another member of it, and presumably a direct spore sport 
from L. p. JH. cristata itself, L. p. in. pevcvistata apospova, 
a little gem of cristation, every point of which will develop 
into prothalli if layered, and these prothalli in their turn 
produce young ferns by apogamy, so that the two 
phenomena are here combined, the result being the very 
speedy production of plants, owing to the saving of the 
time necessary for the production of the antheridia and 
archegonia and the subsequent fertilization. Polypodium 
vtilgave has afforded an instance in a seedling raised by me 
from P. V. sevvatum, but only in its juvenile stage. 

The Hartstongue was my next discovery, 5. v. cvispiim 
Dvummondiae tempting me by the transparence of its fringes 
to layer them, with the result that they produced prothalli 
and plants freely by apospory. Then at two meetings of 
the B.P.S. A. f.f. Clavissima forms were shown of quite 
independent origin from that of Col. Jones, but similarly 
gifted; one, A. f.f. Clavissima Bolton, a wild find, the other 
A. f.f. Clavissima cristatum Gavnett, raised from an unknown 
parent. Both these attracted my attention, first of all by 


90 

the remark of the finder and raiser that ** the spores would 
not ripen," the whitish aposporous growths instantly giving 
me the reason. Both these have yielded plants, but 
Bolton's form is very inconstant, and Garnett's, though 
itself a very pretty slender cristatum, yields inferior 
progeny. The aposporous Shield Ferns produce extremely 
depauperate and defective progeny from their aposporous 
prothalli, exceptions being very rare, and only so far as I 
know, in one instance, with Aloly's beautifully variegated 
pnlchcrrijtmm in Dr. Stansfield's hands. 

The moral of the above to young fern students is that 
close and keen observation may be well repaid, even by 
"something new under the sun," and that if anything 
fresh be noted, a record should not merely be kept, but if 
possible published, and it is only by doing so that fresh 
material is likely to be sent and fresh discovery thus 
facilitated. Possibly this description of apospory may 
lead to further discoveries, and I need hardly say that I 
should be most happy to pronounce upon any material 
sent me in that connection. 

In conclusion, I may add tha.t A. f.f. Clarissima Jones was 
found by Mr. IMoule on a blazing hot summer day, and 
was observed by Col. Jones, who fortunately visited him in 
the afternoon, rapidly shrivelling in the sun, and so far 
gone that it was with difficulty revived and established. 
Although it assumed in time a very large size, Mr. G. B. 
WoUaston recorded the width of its fronds as twenty-six 
inches, it resisted all attempts at propagation by the 
presumed spores, which appeared in profusion every 
season, and at the time of the discovery of the true nature 
of the excrescences only two divisions existed, one in Col. 
Jones's possession the other in Mr. Woliaston's. On Mr. 
Wollaston's death the plant disappeared, and it is not 
known into whose possession it fell, or if it died of neglect. 
The other division, however, at CHfton, multiphed itself 
under the tender care of Col. Jones's relatives there into 
three fine specimens, and from these it was clear that a 


91 

peculiar tendency to twist in the fronds, which detracts 
from the beauty of all the many specimens now extant, 
which were raised by apospory at the time of the discovery, 
was not inherited, since the original plant is not only more 
robust and much larger, but has the fronds perfectly flat. 
Thanks to Miss Jones's kindness and recognition of my 
peculiar association with this charming fern, I am now the 
fortunate owner of one of the divisions, which at the present 
moment promises to be a full-sized specimen this season. 
It is a curious fact that the growths observed at the time of 
the discovery were far larger and very different in form to 
any subsequently noted, those of the following season 
being so altered, indeed, that it seemed doubtful whether 
they would act in the same way. Fortunately, however, 
they too produced plants, and thus enabled a confirmation 
of my original report to be effected by Professor Bower. 
It remains to be seen whether the original type will recur, 
now that the original plant is under my own observation. 

C. T. D. 


THE DECORATIVE VALUE OF OUR 
NATIVE FERNS.— II.- 

If we turn from the natural haunts of ferns, and consider 
them in connection with our own gardens, we shall at once 
perceive how readily they can be made to decorate places 
where little else will grow. There are few houses, great 
or small, whose grounds do not contain nooks and corners 
where the sun's rays seldom come. If there are also walls 
and shrubs so arranged as to supply shelter from rough 
winds, such spots are ideal for ferns. The absence of sun 
ensures sufficient moisture ; the one thing needful is to 
make any necessary provision for drainage. Our experi- 
ence of the decorative methods which ferns adopt when 

'■' Reprinted by permission of The Guardian, 


92 

left to themselves will be fertile in suggestions for the 
treatment of such sites. Where there are walls, little 
difficulty will be experienced in inducing the Polypody 
to adorn the tops, leaf-mould worked into hollows and 
crevices is all they will need. To get the sites covered 
with Hartstongues, after the fashion of the wall described 
in the Guardian of January loth, will not be so easy; the 
requisite supplies of moisture will be absent. But, with 
the help of stones and cement simple wall-pockets can be 
readily made, in which the ferns will soon be quite at 
home. If there are no walls, as a supplement to the walls, 
tree stumps and roots afford, perhaps, the best of all 
positions for the Polypody. It was with some hesitation 
that I ventured to imitate Nature, and grow my best 
varieties in this way. The results have so far surpassed 
those obtained upon the level that I can confidently 
recommend the method. Its feasibility arises from the 
indifference of the Polypody to temporary drought. In the 
neighbourhood of Dublin, the summer of 1905 was one of 
the driest for years. Many of my Polypodies received no 
artificial watering. They are, nevertheless, in full health 
and vigour. The rest of the work will be best completed 
by throwing the soil into hills and hollows, to which 
stones may or may not be added, according as taste or 
convenience direct. In this way not only will drainage be 
simplified, but the variety of contour inseparable from 
Nature's ferneries will be obtained. By simple devices 
such as these we shall be able to associate all the more 
hardy ferns, and to give them the situations they like best. 
Upon the lowest levels will be the Lady Fern and the 
Broad Buckler, higher up the Shield Fern and Male Fern 
will make their home. Over them the Polypodies will 
wreath the tree-stumps with coronals and garlands of 
richest green. Behind, where there are walls, the distinct 
form of the Hartstongue will give a fitting background. 
The Polypodies, again, a forest of them if we are happy in 
our planting, will add the topmost finish to the whole. 


93 

The first of the qualities which make our ferns so valu- 
able for decoration will now be manifest, in that they 
supply suitable means for treating those dark and damp 
places where little else can live. It remains to show that 
the pronounced beauty of form which the ferns possess, 
entitles them to the decorator's fullest consideration. In 
what has been written thus far we have been occupied, 
almost exclusively, with normal forms. Such massing as 
Nature gives is accomplished with ordinary types. But it 
is the privilege of the cultivator to be able to get together 
in numbers the special treasures which in the wild state 
occurs only at distant intervals. Very beautiful and highly 
decorative are the simplest of our British ferns, as those 
will allow who have seen them in havens such as we have 
been describing. They are, however, to be compared with 
the glory of their fully-developed varieties only as the wild 
rose to the majesty of its stately cousin when transformed 
into the queen of flowers. It is no hght undertaking to 
attempt advice with reference to the choice of " varieties." 
Their multitude is bewildering. I had been some years at 
work upon the ferns, when the catalogue of a well-known 
specialist came my way. Most of the types I had studied 
where they grew, and I had acquired some of the leading 
varieties. But when I turned over the pages of the 
catalogue and found, not as I expected, tens, but hundreds, 
I realised myself the veriest tyro. Of Hartstongues there 
were seventy-five, of Shield Ferns no fewer than 185, and, 
what is more, as I have learned since, there are numbers 
which these lists did not include. Where the field is so 
vast all that can be attempted is an outline notice of a few 
that seem to stand out prominently for decorative beauty 
and for general hardiness. 

H. KiNGSMiLL Moore. 


{To he contimicd .) 


94 

THE BOOK OF BRITISH FERNS. 

Those members who have not yet acquired a copy of 
this standard work issued by the Society, and compiled by 
the Editor, should certainly do so. It is profusely illus- 
trated, and contains description of about 700 of the choicest 
forms, as determined by a committee of the Society, and is 
obtainable from the Secretary, price 3s. gd., post free. 


LIST OF MEMBERS. 

(With Addresses.) 

Mr. William Wilson, 7, Ferney Green, Kendal. 

,, Joseph Wiper (Hon. Mem.), Fern Deane, Kendal. 

,, Geo. Whitwell, Serpentine Cottage, Kendal (Hon. Secretary). 

,, J. A. Wilson (Hon. Mem.), Millbeck Stock, Bowness. 

,, R. Whiteside, 8, Borrovvdale Road, Lancaster. 

,, J. J. Smithies, Boundry Bank, Kendal. 
Dr. F. W. Stansfield, 120, Oxford Road, Reading. 
Mr. J. M. Barnes, b.a., Earnseat, Arnside. 

,, W. B. Boyd, Faldonside, Melrose, N.B. 

,, W. H. Phillips, Lemonfield, Holywood, co. Down. 

,, R. L. Praegar, b.e., b.a., m.r.i.a., National Library of Ireland, 
Dublin. 

,, C. T. Druery, v.m.h., f.l.s., Stanwixbank, 11, Shaa Road, 
Acton, W. 

,, W. F. Askew, Junior, Borrowdale Hotel, Borrowdale. 

,, Thomas Bolton, Fern Cottage, Warton, Carnforth. 

,, J. W. Walton, Finkle Street, Richmond, Yorkshire. 

,, J. L. Smith, Fairbank, Lytham Road, South Shore, Blackpool. 
Rev. H. Kingsmill Moore, d.d.. Cedar Mount, Dundrum, Dublin. 
Mr. Thomas Smith, Daisy Hill Nursery, Newry, Ireland. 

,, Alexander Cowan, Valleyfield House, Penicuik, Midlothian. 

,, J. C. Williams (Life Mem.), Caerhays Castle, St. Austell, Cornwall. 

,, F. W. Thorrington, Ferncote, Emerson Park, Hori;t;hurch, Essex. 

,, C. Piatt, Thornleigh, Wetherall, near Carlisle. 

,, James Walker, 68, Main Street, Alexandria, Dumbartonshire. 

,, E. Naylor, Heather Bank, Hazelhurst Road, Bradford. 

,, W. E. Farrar, Oubcck, Galgate, Lancaster. 

,, R. Bolton, Holly Bank, Warton, Carnforth. 

,, J. S. Parsons, 235, Cowbridge Road, Cardiff. 

,, W. Gordon, Victoria Road, Maxwelltown, Dumfries. 


95 

Mr. Alfred Pickard, 2, Snow Hill View, Wakefield, 

,, G. Malcomson, Castle Place, Belfast. 

,, W. 13. Cranfield, Bramley House, Enfield. 

,, C. Cordrey, 23, Morley Avenue, Upper Edmonton. 
Rev. Canon H. W. Lett, Aghadeng Rectory, Loughbrickland, co. Down. 
Mr. C. B. Green, 11, Myrtle Road, Acton. 

,, J. B. Parker, 14, Adelaide Terrace, Waterloo, Liverpool. 

,, O. Firth, Dean Head Sanitorium, Horsforth, Yorkshire. 

,, C. Pattison, Linnwood, near Paisley. 

,, W. Scott, Dryden Bank, Loanhead, Midlothian. 

,, F. A. Allchin, Tredadwell, Fowey, Cornwall. 
Rev. W. Sergeantson, Acton Burwell, Shrewsbury. 
Mr. J. Frances, 3, Glan Aber Road, Chester. 
Miss M. E. Heward, Little Falcourt, near East Grinstead. 
Mr. W. H. Coverdale, Beechwood Scriven, Knaresborough. 

,, James Brown, 86, Castle Street, Forfar. 

,, Walter Wilson, 9, East Lane, Fergustie, Paisley. 
Mrs. C. E. Perkins, The Rectory, Hinton Parva, Swindon. 
Mr, Spencer H. Bickham, f.l.s., Underdown, Ledbury. 

,, G. Bunyard, v,m,h., Maidstone. 
Sir Archibald Buchan-Hepburn, Smeaton Hepburn, Prestonkirk, East 

Lothian. 
Mr, M. Harris, Zoological Gardens, Clifton. 

,, W. Marshall, v.m.h., Auchinraith, Bexley. Kent. 

,, E. Bowles, Waltham Cross. 

Rev. E. H. Hawkins, Holy Trinity Vicarage, Stroud. 
Mr. F. W. Moore, v.m.h., Glasnevin, Dublin. 

,, W. O. Brian, 4, Kildare Street, Dublin. 

,, G. Hart, Woodside, Howth, co. Dublin, 
Mrs. Pritchard, The Quarry, Colwall, Malvern. 
Mr. H. Sanderson, Eastmount, Galashiels, 
Rev. J. J. M, L. Aiken, Manse of Ay ton, Berwickshire. 
Mr. W. Bell, Maryville, Croslands Park, Furness Abbey. 

,, G. Eley, Croslands, Furness Abbey. 

„ Angus Campbell, 68, George Street, Bonhill, Dumbartonshire. 

,, E. Wiper, Fern Deane, Kendal, 

,, G. Millward, Horncop Villas, Kendal. 

,, H. Bolton, Fern Bank, Warton, Carnforth, 

,, A. Dean, v.m.h., 62, Richmond Road, Kingston-on-Thames. 
Miss B, Stanley Rogerson, Argaty, Doune, Perthshire. 
Mr. A. Sweet, Braehead, Cathcart, Glasgow. 

,, H. Stansfield, Fern Nursery, Sale, Manchester. 

,, T. E. Henwood, Auricula Villa, Hamilton Road, Reading. 

,, T. L. Whiteley, 206, St. Leonard's Road, Bradford. 

,, A. Perry, Hardy Plant Nursery, Enfield. 


96 

Mr. J. S. Cousens, 12, Grove Road, Wanstead, Essex. 

,. F. N. Adkin, Westwood, Oaklands Road, Bromley, Kent. 
Mrs. Batten Poole, Road INIanor, Bath. 
Miss Mary A, Day, Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, Cambridge, 

Mass., U.S.A. 
Mr. D. H. Ragg, The Green, Lower Edmonton. 

,, J. Campbell Mm-ray, j.p., Haggs Castle, Glasgow. 
Mrs. Margary, Cliff House, East Cliff, Bournemouth. 
Mr. R. I. Gifford Read, i. Great Chapel Street, Westminster. 

,, F. Silva, The Grove Lodge, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. 

,, D. Peary, Island Cottage, Lealholm, Grosmont, S.O., Yorks. 

,, R. S. Markendale, 3, Mornington Villas, Manningham, Bradford. 
Rev. J. Jacobs, Whitewell Rectory, Whitchurch, Salop. 
Mr. Geo. Fraser, Ucluelet, British Columbia. 

,, W. D. T. Scott, Olympus Mine, W^est Nicholson, South Rhodesia, 
South Africa. 

,, J. H. Turner, Lynwood, Caversham, Reading. 

,, J. G. McKendrick, m.d., ll.d., f.r.s., Maxieburn, Stonehaven, N.B. 

,, Thos. Kingscote, m.v.o., Watermoor House, Cirencester, Glos. 

,, Alex, Forrest, Ardenbank, Chapel Street, Carluke, N.B. 

,, Joe Edwards, Feme Deane, Oak Bank Avenue, Moston, Manchester. 
Herr H. Wognar. Graz, Brockmanng 118/26, Austria. 
Mr. G. Hemming, The Palace, Alexandra Park, London. 

,, C. J. Meyer, Wellington Road, New Brighton, Cheshire. 

,, Robert A. Ware, 246, Devonshire Street, Boston, Mass., U.S.A. 

„ Harold G. Rugg, Dartmouth College Library, Hanover, New 
Hampshire, U.S.A. 

„ F. G. Floyd, 325, Park Street, West Rosbury, Mass., U.S.A. 

,, G. Forbes Johnston, 163, Brook Street, Broughty Ferry, N.B. 
Mrs. Edward J. Thatcher, The Manor House, Chew Magna, Somerset. 
Mr. A. Hargreaves, 62, Wrigley Street, Oldham. 

,, E. Fletcher, 12, Stanley Street, Heaton Park, Manchester. 

,, H. C. Marshall, 8, Crawfordburn Road, Bangor, Co. Down. 

,, J. Lambert, 46, Dantzic Street, Manchester. 

,, S. S. Martin, Stanley Park, Stroud. 

., G. F. Ormerod, Ashgrove, Elland, Brighouse. 

,, W. Swan Sonnenschein, Carter Lane, Ludgate Hill. 
Miss S. A. Marsh, Glenlyon, Holyrood, Co. Down. 
Mr. Edward White, 7, Victoria Street, S.W. 
Mrs. A. Grant White, Mount View, York Road Wokin^r 
Mr. J. Whitton, Bellahouston House, Glasgow. 

„ J. H. Wright, Courtlands, Rosemont Road, Acton, W, 

,, Thos. Brown, j.p., lona, Antrim Road. Belfast. 


AMERICAN FERNS. 

There are more than 300 Species of Fernworts 
in the United States and Canada, and an imrrense 
number of varieties. A majority of British ferns 
are among the number. Read what the Americans 
have found out about them in 

Zbc jfern Bulletin, 

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 

Many new Species and Forms have been 
described and illustrated in its pages. 

Annual Suhscriptionf 3s. post free. 

A Set of the 13 Volumes still in print will 
be sent for 36 shillings, post free. 

Sample Copy for a Penny Stamp, 


Six Different Numbers for One Shilling. 


Address— WILLARD N. CLUTE & Co., Joliet, III., U.S.A. 


FERNS. 


* * * 

H. B. MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will he found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sizes, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

Stove, 6reeni)ou$c, and otbcr Plants 
. . .are also laraeip drown. . . . 

* * * 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants can be had post free 
upon application to— 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDMONTON. 


lu. 


aKASMnB^Mb^UMMMMM^MIIfifa 


VOL. 1. No. 5. 


. . . Zbc ♦ . . 


JBritieb fcvn 
©asette^ 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


September, 1910* 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., FX.S. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Hon. Secretary, C. T. Druery, ii, Shaa Rd.. Acton, London, W.) 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


Lady Ferns {see piige 103). 


THE 

BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 

Vol. I. SEPTEMBER, 1910. No. 5. 

CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Editorial Note .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 97 

The Acgust Meeting (Report and Balance Seieet, etc.) 100 

Our Frontispiece (Lady Ferns) .. .. .. .. 103 

The Decorative Value of our Native Ferns. No. 3 (concluded) 105 

The Common Bracken (Pteris aquilina) .. .. .. 107 

Cresting in Ferns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. no 

Fern Wonders .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 113 

Variegated Hartstongues .. .. .. .. .. 114 

Effect of Environment on Variation .. .. .. 117 

POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM " GrACILLIMUM " ,. .. .. 1x9 

New Ferns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. iig 

List of New Members .. .. .. .. .. .. 120 


EDITORIAL NOTE. 

In commencing the second annual series of the Gazette 
the Editor is dehghted to be able to announce that the first 
has met with great general commendation, and that its 
issue has resulted in a very large addition to the membership 
of the British Pteridological Society, for the benefit of whose 
members it is published. It is gratifying, too, to know that 
not merely in Britain has it been recognized as forming 
a valuable and indeed unique contribution to the literature 
of our Native Ferns, but that the general principles of 
Fern Hfe, variation and culture have been so set forth as to 
evoke also the interest of colonial and foreign fern lovers 
and scientists, a number of whom have consequently 
become members. The Editor, however, regrets that he 
is still compelled to figure so largely as a contributor to its 
pages, and desires particularly that those interested in the 
cult will aid him by notes and articles dealing in a practical 
manner with new finds or raisings, and their personal 


q8 

experiences as hunters, raisers and cultivators. The articles 
by the Rev. Kingsmill Moore particularly have been of 
service, as have those contributors who have supplied 
descriptive lists of their discoveries. These may be taken 
as models of the matter of chief interest. 

As this number commences a second series, the Editor 
trusts that those who have so far supported him by their 
subscriptions will continue not only to do so, but to enlist 
their fern-loving friends as members in addition. 

As will be seen from the following report of the meeting 
at Moffat, N.B., on August ist, which v/as attended by a 
considerably increased number of members, the Editor has 
also undertaken the duties of Honorary Secretary to the 
Society, while Mr. W. B. Cranfield, of East Lodge, Enfield 
Chase, has very kindly consented to act as Treasurer, and 
subscriptions, which are noiv due, can consequently be sent 
either to the Hon. Secretary, 1 1, Shaa Road, Acton, London, 
W., or to the Treasurer at the address given. By virtue of 
these new arrangements, necessitated by the regretted 
resignation of both Mr. G. Whitwell, of Kendal, the Hon. 
Secretary there since the inception of the Society, and Mr. 
W. Wilson, the Treasurer, also of Kendal, whose engage- 
ments prevented him from undertaking the increased work 
involved in the now rapid development of the Society, the 
management of the Society is largely simplified, and it is to 
be hoped that all lovers of our Native Ferns, and especially 
of their beautiful varieties, will support it in view of its 
practical value as a means of bringing them into closer touch 
with each other. The Bvitish Fcvn Gazette, too, is valuable 
as a means of imparting a mass of information in a concrete 
form, which prior to its establishment was either scattered 
through the general horticultural Press, or entirely lost 
through lack of a recognized channel for intercommuni- 
cation. In this connection the Editor cordially invites 
co-operation as above stated, and thinks it well to mention 
that the four back numbers of the Gazette can be supplied 
to new members for 2s. the set, or 6d. each, post free. 


99 

It may also interest the new members to know that the 
following reports and records of interesting papers read at 
the Society's past meetings are available, and can be 
supplied at 6d. each number, post free ; or 4s. the complete 
set of II. These would make an instructive volume. 
1894 ^^^ 1895- " Selective Culture." By C. T. Druery, 
V.M.H., F.L.S. 
'' Some Results of Fern-Hunting in Ireland." By 

W. H. Phillips. 
"Notes on some Irish Finds." By R. Lloyd 

Praeger, B.E., B.A. 
" Fern Reproduction." By C. T. Druery. 

1896. " The Marvellous Side of Fern Life." By C. T. 

Druery. 
'* Weissmann's Theory of Heredity and its Relation 

to Fern Life." By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 

1897. "The Ferns of the Diamond Jubilee." By C. T. 

Druery. 
** Fifty Years' Varietal Development in British Ferns." 
By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 

1898. *' Ferns as Pet Plants." By C. T. Druery. • 

" Fern Growing in the Towns." By W. H. Atkinson. 
'' Polysticlmm angulave pvolifevum — Past, Present and 
Future." By W. H. Phillips. 

1899. '* Own Finds and Specialities of British Ferns." By 

C. T. Druery. 
" Lastvea filix mas, its Past and Present Divisions." 
By W. H. Phillips. 

1900. "The Growth of a Hobby." By C. T. Druery. 

" My own Finds of British Fern Varieties in the 
Lake District." By G. Whitwell. 

1901. '' The Culture of some Difficult British Ferns." By 

Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 
" Scolopendviuui vulgave, its Varieties and Culture." By 
C. B. Green. 

1902. "The Lady Fern" [Athyvium filix fo&mina). By 

C. T. Druery. 
"A List of Finds by Various Members." 


lOO 

1903. ''The Study of the Abnormal." By Dr. F. W. 

Stansfield. 
" Varietal Types of British Ferns." By C. T. Druery. 
" The Propagation of Varieties of Last yea Jiwniana." 

By C. T. Druery. 

1904. " The British Polypodies.''' By C. T. Druery. 

1905. " Some Personal Reminiscences during Fifty Years 

of Fern Hunting and Cultivation." By W. H. 

Phillips. 
" Correlation of Characters in British Fern Varieties." 

Bv Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 
II, Shaa Road, Acton, The Editor. 

London, W. 


THE AUGUST MEETING. 

On August the ist, as customary on the August Bank 
Holiday, this Society held its Annual Meeting, this time at 
Moffat, in Dumfrieshire, as affording a good field for fern 
hunting before and after the actual business meeting, which 
was conducted at Beattock Junction for the convenience of 
some of the members. The report of the Society was of a 
particularly satisfactory nature, the establishment of the 
Bvitish Fern Gazette in conjunction therewith having 
resulted in the addition of about one hundred new 
members, and the placing of the Society upon a far 
more substantial and far-reaching basis than before. 
Despite the expense incurred by the tentative issue of 
the first four quarterly numbers, the balance sheet 
showed an increase of the funds in hand, evidencing 
the complete success of the experiment, which it was 
resolved should become a permanent institution, Mr. 
Chas. T. Druery, V.M.PI., F.L.S., having consented not 
only to continue the editorship, but also, owing to the 
much regretted resignation of Mr. G. Whitwell, the 
Honorary Secretary since the inception of the Society, 
to undertake the secretarial duties as well. A very 


lOI 

cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Whitwell for 
his valuable services in the past. The Treasurer, Mr. 
Wilson, being also precluded by his engagements from 
continuing to hold the office now that the work had so 
much increased, Mr. W. B. Cranfield very kindly con- 
sented to take that office over, especially as this involved 
a great saving of work, owing to his proximity in London 
to the new Secretary, Mr. Druery. The rest of the 
business was more or less formal, and terminated, after 
the re-election of Mr. Alex. Cowan as President (and 
Chairman on that occasion), in a hearty vote of thanks 
to him for his services in that connection, and particularly 
for the great trouble he had taken in making the needful 
arrangements at Moffat for the accommodation of the 
members. As usual on such occasions, fern hunting 
parties were organized for the exploration of the district, 
but as the weather was very fickle, heavy downpours of 
rain, chilly gales, and general moist conditions handicapping 
research materially, no very marked *' finds " turned up, 
though a number of augustate and crispate forms of 
Lastrea montana, the prevalent species, were discovered 
of sufficient merit to be taken for growing on and testing, 
prior to which it was hardly deemed safe to definitely name 
them. By an unanimous vote, it was determined to hold 
the 191 1 meeting at Barnstaple, in Devonshire, in order to 
afford the many members in the Midlands and the North, 
where the species are relatively much less numerous, an 
opportunity of studying the more abundant and more 
varied fern flora of the South of England, and also an 
improved opportunity to South of England members to 
be present, an arrangement of which the somewhat 
restricted and local nature of the Society hitherto has 
prevented the enjoyment. In view of the now established 
position of the British Fern Gazette as an organ for the 
dissemination of a wider knowledge of our beautiful fern 
varieties, and for bringing our Native Fern lovers into closer 
touch with each other, it is to be hoped that many such 

B 


102 


will swell the existing membership, the subscription to 
which, including four quarterly issues of the Gazette, is 
five shillings only. The Secretary, Mr. C. T. Druery, 
II, Shaa Road, Acton, London, W., will be happy to 
forward all particulars and a specimen number to intending 
subscribers on receipt of a post-card. 


BALANCE SHEET. 


Inxome. 


June 2ist, igog. 
To Bank Balance 
,, 121 Subscriptions 

at 5S 30 5 


£ s. d. 
59 15 6 


o 


Expenditure. 


By 


£ s. d. 


o 


Aug. 2, igog, to 
July 28, loio. 
To 6 Fern Books Sold 


I 


2 


„ Donation, W.D.T. 


Scott, Rhodesia 


15 


,, H. B. May, & Sons, 
Advt 


I 


I 


M 


„ Interest at Bank.. 


I 


5 


4 


) ■ 

51 


/94 


3 


10 


Mr. Whitwell, 

Stamps, &c. 
H. Dixon & Co., 

Printing .. .-3 5 

Expenses,Committee o 12 
Thompson Bros., 

Receipt Books . . o 
Cost of Fern Gazette, 

Circulars and 

Postages . . . . 24 

C. T. Druery, Cash 

in hand . . . . o 10 

W.Wilson, do. ..08 
Balance at Bank. . 64 i 


o 


6 
o 


6 6 


o 
o 

5 


/94 


10 


LIST OF OFFICERS. 

President : Mr. A. Cowan, Penicuick. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Dr. F. W. Stansfield, Reading. Mr. J. J. Smithies, Kendal. 

Mr. C. T. Druery, Acton, London. Mr. W. H. Phillips, Belfast. 

Mr. J. Wiper, Kendal. Mr. R. L. Praeger, Dublin. 

Mr. W. B. Boyd, Melrose. 
Hon. Secretary: Mr. Chas. T. Druery, v.m.h., f.l.s. 
Treasurer : Mr. W. B. Cranfield, Enfield Chase. 
Auditor: Mr. J. J. Smithies. 
Committee. 
Mr. T. Bolton, Warton. Mr. W. E. Farrer, Lancaster, 

,, J. J. Smithies, Kendal. ,, J. M. Barnes, Arnside. 

,, R. Whiteside, Lancaster. ,, E, Wiper, Kendal. 

„ G. Milhvard. Kendal. ,, G. Whitwell, Kendal. 

Mr. W. Wilson, Kendal. 
Together with the President and Vice-Presidents as members ex officio. 


I03 

OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

We have chosen for our frontispiece for this issue an 
illustration of a very choice selection of varieties of Lady 
Ferns, to which the following descriptions apply. As 
will be seen, they embrace practically ail the most 
marked types, and give in a small space a capital idea 
of the marvellous versatility of this species. The plate 
also shows a few of the best varieties of our Native 
Spleenworts, which, although belonging to a genus of 
peculiar constancy, and rarely prone to vary very much 
in its exotic species, has been fairly liberal in " sports " in 
i:his country. We may mention that all the varieties 
shown were either drawn direct from fronds provided or 
from nature prints done by the late Col. Jones, of Clifton. 

The Spleenworts represented are : — 

Fig. 2. — A pinna only of a very beautiful and rare form 
of Asplenium niarinum, Asp. in. pliimosum, bipinnate and 
barren, since though spore heaps are apparent, they do 
not mature, and appear only as stripes, covered with a 
white indusium. 

Fig. 7. — Asp. mavimun capitatum, found in Yorkshire, 
bearing a heavy terminal crest on an almost bare stalk, 
the only really crested form of the species. 

Fig. 10. — Asp. adiantum nigrum gvandiceps, found in 
Ireland and subsequently in North Devon, a very fine 
form, as shown. 

Fig. 14. — Asp. ivichomanes incisum: This is the true 
plumose form of the species, and has been found several 
times. The best form is that shown, which was found 
by Mr. Clapham. Always barren. The counterpart of 
'' cainbricnjii" in P. vulgave. 

Figs. 16 and 17. — Asp. t. rauio-cvistatum and cvistatum. 
Prettily crested forms, finds of which have been made on 
several occasions. 

The Lady Ferns are : — 

Fig. I. — That extraordinary and unique fern, A, f.f. 
VictovlcB, really a percristate cruciatwn, in which both the 


I04 

pinnae and pinnules are in pairs, set on at about right 
angles to each other, so as with the opposite pairs to form 
crosses, while the tips of fronds and pinnae bear beautifully 
redivided tassels. Found in Scotland. 

Fig. 3. — A. f.f. splendens. A crested (almost plumose) 
form, wdth crested pinnules. Raised. 

Fig. 4. — A. f.f. Kalothrix. The most delicately divided 
of all Lady Ferns, divisions like beautiful hair, whence the 
name, and wdth a silky lucent surface. Requires shady 
position and protection to show full beauty. A gem. 

Figs. 5, 6, 11 and 19. — Various forms of A. ff. Frizellics 
shewn in Fig. 6, -viz. as numbered (5) ramosissimnm, (11} 
cvistaUinit (19) ramosnm (crest only), representing certainly 
one of the most striking sections of this versatile species, 
but rather apt to revert partially in many of its forms, 
w^hich are probably crosses. 

Fig. 8. — A. ff. plnmosum Horsfall. Found in Yorkshire ; 
the most delicately made of the wild finds of phimosnm. 

Fig. 9. — A. f.f. pnlchervimuni. Very prettily cut 
divisions, finely pointed and saw-toothed ; found several 
times in slightly varied forms. 

Fig. 12. — A. f.f. Clarissima. A pinna only of that 
wonderful fern, on which the phenomenon of " apospory " 
or prothalli, instead of spore-heaps, was first discovered. 
Almost as finely cut as Kalothrix, but large and robust. 

Fig. 13. — A. f.f. acrocladon. Found in Yorkshire. 
Fronds so repeatedly divided as to transform the whole 
plant into a huge almost moss-like mass. Some of its 
progeny, nncoglomevatujii to wit, go much farther, and 
resemble a mass of SclagineUa apoda on finer-cut lines. 

Fig. 15. — A. f.f. glomeratum. One of the finest covymhosc 
crested varieties, with huge bunch crests at all terrriinals. 

Fig. 18. — A.f.f. Vernoniae cristatuin. A beautiful variant 
of Vernoniae, with peculiarly crisped and wavy divisions, 
rendering it very distinct. 

As will be seen, the group embraces most of the wonder- 
ful types assumed by this protean species, and would form 
a very fine nucleus for a budding collection. C. T. D. 


^o5 

THE DECORATIVE VALUE OF OUR 
NATIVE FERNS.— III.' 

The Hartstongue varieties which conform to the 
requirements of decorative beauty and general hardi- 
ness may, perhaps, be grouped under three heads 
— those which are forked and forked again, until each 
frond, instead of being single, looks like a set of 
plumes (5. v. dlgitatwn and S. v. rauio-digifatuin are 
typical of this group) ; then there are those whose 
fronds break into rich and full cresting at the top, 
5. V. cvistaUim Millett and S. v. covonatuui are both most 
effective ; lastly, and, in my view, the more lovely of the 
section, are those which come under the head of Cvispnm. 
Here the straight edge of the frond becomes affected. In 
the simpler forms it shows a gentle undulation. As the 
variation becomes more complex, the side line shapes 
itself into rich deep frills, whose setting might rival the 
symmetry of an Elizabethan ruff. S. v. cvispuin, S. v. 
cvispnm vobustiun, and 5. v, cvispuin gvande Wills are the 
elite of this section. 

Among the Lady Ferns, those which rank highest 
cannot well be included here. The wonderful plumose 
varieties, which Mr. Druery has done so much to develop, 
do not attain perfection without glass. But the Axminster 
variety, from which most of them have sprung, is as hardy 
as it is graceful, and, with regard to others, the only 
difficulty is selection. Here are a few of the gems: — 
Athyviiim Filix-jocmiim Vevnoniae cvistata sets off the green 
of its pinnulets and crests by the contrasts of deep-brown 
midribs ; the Acvocladon group baffles description, so mar- 
vellous are the branching summits ; A . f.f. Victoviae is 
believed to have no parallel in the fern world. All its 
divisions, even to the pinnules, are in pairs ; one of each 
pair grows up, the other down ; they cross one another, 
and are tasseled at the extremities. The whole presents the 
appearance of an elaborate chequer-work pattern set off 
'■^Reprinted by permission of The Guiydian. 


io6 

all round with the most delicate fringe. Passing to the 
Broad Buckler Fern, its normal beauty needs no heighten- 
ino^, and merely naming two splendid varieties of the Male 
Fern — Lastvea pseudo-mas cristata, known as the *' King of 
our British Ferns," and L. p.-ni. polydadyla Dadds — we 
come to the class which for purposes of outdoor decoration 
stands pre-eminent — the Shield Ferns. So numerous are 
the varieties of Polystichnm annulare alone, that a whole 
garden might be devoted to this one species. In alluding — 
no more is possible — to the Polystichums, I shall confine 
myself to a single group of P. angulave, the Divisilobes ; 
because in them the highest decorative level of British, if 
not of any known ferns is reached. The whole group is 
conspicuous alike for boldness of outline and extreme 
delicacy of detail; especially good are P. a. divisilohuin 
grande, and P. a. divisilobum vohustum. But it is round 
the inner section, known as plumose divisilobes, that in- 
terest grows keenest. Here the fronds are divided and 
sub-divided until it becomes no easy matter for the naked 
eye to discern the minute but exquisitely symmetrical 
divisions which result ; and the pinnae and pinnules so 
richly overlap that the whole appearance is that of softest 
fur, or most luxuriant feathers. Deep in an artificial dell, 
contrived to afford the necessary shelter, I have raised an 
exceptional fine specimen of P. a. divisilohuin plumosuin 
laxum) a small bridge crosses just above the fern. The 
ordinary visitor has little in the way of praise to bestow on 
ferns in general, but I have never known any who did not 
break into exclamations of wonder and admiration as they 
bent over the unrivalled beauty of this empress of ferns. 
Another exceptionally fine member of the same family is 
P. a. div. plumosum Esplan. 

We reach last the varieties of the Common Polypody. 
In number they are few compared with those of the fore- 
going species. Still, my own collection includes some 
twenty, and thirty-four are enumerated in the " Book of 
British Ferns," by C. T. Druery, F.L.S., V.M.H. For 


beauty there are those who think that such forms as P. v. 
Covnubiense tvicliomauoides will bear compariGon even with 
the best Athyriums and Polystichums. While realising 
their loveliness, I prefer to rest their claims to special 
notice upon the characteristics already described — namely, 
their methods of growth and their readiness to adapt them- 
selves to situations impossible for other ferns. There are 
two well-marked types, w^hich should be included in every 
collection — P. v. camhviciuii and P. v. covmihiense, so called 
because originally found in Wales and Cornwall respec- 
tively. A third type — which characteristically, I suppose, 
gives more trouble — is P. v. hihevniciim. Alany graceful 
developments of this fine trio are in cultivation. All have 
the supreme merit of being at their best in winter. Unlike 
other ferns, they develop late, some not until x\ugust ; the 
fronds have thus the full vigour of youth for resisting 
winter storms. 

As I draw this paper to a close, I am not sanguine as to 
the success of the second part of my undertaking. It was 
comparatively easy to show that ferns could be made to 
decorate unpromising sites ; it is a different matter to 
convey in words an idea of fern loveliness. If, however, I 
have succeeded so far as to arouse even curiosity, those 
who read may be induced to visit the nursery of some 
neighbouring specialist. Once they are there, all doubts 
as to the superlative beauty of our native ferns will speedily 
disappear. H. Kingsmill IMoore. 

THE COMMON BRACKEN. " 

(Pteris aquilina.) 
The Common Bracken, owang to its very abundance, is 
rarely regarded with as much attention as its beauty 
deserves, for it is really one of the most beautiful native 
ferns when growing under quite congenial conditions, where 
sufficient shelter and shade permits its fronds to attain full 
development. What can be more picturesque than a 
woodland glade, beneath whose umbrageous foliage the 


io8 


bracken clothes the ground with graceful shoulder-high 
frondage, deep enough to hide all but the antlers of the 
deer which may find harbourage therein. Save the Royal 
Fern, w^e have none other of so bold a growth, and that is 
stiff and formal as compared with the broad-spreading, 
pendulous, much cut frondage of the despised Bracken. 
The Pteris family, of which the Bracken is the sole British 
representative, is a large one, and is distinguished by the 
spore heaps being arranged in marginal lines, which are 
covered by the recurved edges of the frond segments. A 
considerable number of our decorative market ferns belong 
to the genus, as may be easily ascertained by examination 
of this peculiarity. Few people, even fern-hunters, have 
paid much attention to this species from the varietal point 
of view, and yet it is a very variable one, and given an 
extensive area covered by it, examination will almost 
invariably show more than one variety and generally three, 
viz. the prevailing common type, a much more divided one, 
and a very distinct, crispy, hard fronded form with narrow, 
leathery divisions, a darker green colour and somewhat 
congested habit. These distinct forms are found inter- 
mingled, and often extend for considerable distances, a 
frond cropping up here, there and yonder, according as the 
long underground travelling rootstocks have wound their 
way amid the labyrinth of those of their companions. 

A fourth form, which we have found repeatedly, has the 
fronds beautifully curved, all the side divisions being arched 
or revolute, while the tips are more or less spirally twisted. 
A considerable tract of ground on both sides the road from 
Windermere to Bo'ness is exclusively occupied by a very 
fine form of this, and we found it also in quantity by the 
roadside near Shirenewton when visiting the late Mr. E. J. 
Lowe. We have noted it elsewhere, but hardly so finely 
characterized. Polydactylous varieties are also not 
uncommon, but frequently only partially fingered, and at 
Faygate, in Sussex, there are many acres occupied mainly, 
and in some spots exclusively, with a very good crested 


I09 

form indeed, thoroughly constant. Ptevis aquilina coiigesfay 
found we beheve in the Lake district, is a charmingly 
congested or dense fronded form, which for garden culture 
possesses, so far as our experience goes, the advantage that 
the congestion appears to affect the rootstock as well and 
prevents it from monopolizing the garden entirely, as does 
P. aq. pevcvistata and gvandiceps and also f^lomevata, three 
other very fine varieties. The first has even the pinnules 
crested, and is extremely handsome, and it is from its 
spores that a percentage of "grandiceps '' is always derived, 
the latter itself being barren. " Grandiceps " consists of 
bunch crests suspended on comparatively short stalks with 
smaller ones at side divisions, hardly any flat leafy portion 
appearing ; it only grows about 2 feet high, while its parent 
is extra robust, and if permitted to do so travels far and 
wide, ignoring gravel paths or even brick walls, and invading 
the garden generally with a shoulder-high jungle of fronds. 
P. aq. glomevata may be described as a Common Bracken 
with a mania for tying itself up into knots ; frond tips and 
side divisions thus forming dense balls, while the minor side 
divisions or pinnules wrap themselves tightly round the 
stalks. This, too, is a robust invader, and the finder in 
the Lake District described the colony on a hill side as 
hanging down it like great bunches of grapes, a curious 
fact in connection with this being that he could never hit 
upon the place afterwards. 

A magnificent variety of the hard leathery type, very 
dense and crested throughout, was found by the writer near 
Pitlochry, but under the most tantalizing conditions, since 
there was only one large frond, springing from rocky soil 
and quite barren of spores, so that nothing could be acquired 
except the frond itself. In this connection Ptevis aquilina 
is peculiar in being almost untransplantable, it roots very 
deeply and has a long, travelling, brittle stolon, which 
cannot be extracted so as to enable the plant to make a 
fresh start. The only way to transplant, therefore, is in 
the winter to dig up a solid mass of soil containing such 


I lO 

roots, and install the mass intact where plants are wanted. 
If, however, there be spores, these can be raised very freely 
in the usual way and speedily make plants, which if 
transferred to the soil in the early autumn wall soon take 
possession and make good specimens the following season. 
For winter transplanting it is advisable to choose some 
place where the plants are small and stunted rather than 
where they are robust, since in that case the roots wdll be 
shorter and fuller of buds within a given space, thus 
affording a better chance. C. T. D. 


CRBSTING IN FERNS. 

One of the main differences existing between the 
varietal capacity of Ferns and other foliage plants is the 
remarkable tendency in the former to develop crests or 
tassels at the terminals of the fronds and side divisions. 
A very large number of species of different genera have 
sported in this direction, while nothing analogous occurs in 
Flowering plants unless the fasciated forms of the Celosias 
and Asparagus plnmosiis be accepted as such, which' is hardly 
admissible except perhaps in the latter case, where it is so 
closely correlated with a frond-like form of foliage. In the 
Celosias or Cockscombs, and also in some abnormial forms of 
other plants, a crest-like form is produced by a multipli- 
cation of the terminal-growing cells of the main stem, with 
the result that it broadens laterally into a more or less 
fan-like growth. This, how'Cver, remains undivided, and it 
is notew"orthy that this multiplication begins really at the 
base of the stem, the subsequent widening out being really 
a multiplication of the normal expansion of the flower 
spathe. In Ferns, on the other hand, although the tassels 
are produced by a similar multiplication of the growing 
points, this, as a rule, commences at a given point sub- 
sequent to considerable growth on normal lines. The 
multiplied points also speedily assume independence, thus 
forming as many separate strands to the tassels, which 


1 1 1 

strands sometimes af^ain divide on similar lines, i.e. after 
growing some length undividedly. Hence the tassels do 
not cohere, Cockscomb fashion. The extreme regularity 
of the point at which this multiplication of the terminal 
cells takes place is very roiiiarkable. A fern frond grows 
by development of apical cells and in a divided or 
decomposite frond, that is, a frond bearing not only side 
divisions or pinnae, but subdivisions of these, or pinnules, 
or even further divisions to the extent of pinnulets and 
pinnuletines, to coin a further necessary diminutive, these 
apical or formative cells multiply laterally accordingly 
within the coiled up tips which uncoil as this process 
continues. This is obviously already a very complicated 
process, and the wonder is therefore the greater when, as in 
some of the most marked examples of cristation, we find 
that at a quite definite stage, all over the frond, these 
apical cells one and all commence to multiply at a different 
angle to form tassels, thus finishing their work on different 
lines to those adhered to previously. 

The fact that in some instances, such as in a form of 
Ptevis sevvuhita known as Applebyanum, we have had heavy 
bunch crests formed at the tip of a previous season's frond, 
only one strand of which had remained green and healthy, 
and that this crest w^as formed by continuous dichotomous 
forking throughout the season until a mass of threadlike 
growth formed a large ball, suggests the possibility that 
this cre-ting in Ferns may be due to an antavistic tendency 
for the growing points to spread on Mavchantia-\\ke lines or 
alternatively to an incapacity in the apical cells to close 
the circuit, as it were, and form a terminal wail or skin, as 
they should do normally. This case, however, forms an 
exception to the general rule of cresting, since the tassels 
are usually complete when the coil containing them unfolds, 
and all they do subsequently is to expand to full size with- 
out any subsequent extension of structure. In a number 
of cases this faculty is developed more or less irregularly, 
and grades from single fronds, once divided at their tips or 


I 12 

it may be even at their bases, forming twin fronds, or other- 
wise normal plants, to fronds which ramify to an indefinite 
e.'^tent from the base upwards to form wide fans or even 
mosslike balls. As a general rule, however, the cresting 
is terminal and even, the subdivisions of the frond dis- 
playing precisely the same character as the frond itself, only 
on a smaller scale, so that the heavier and more pronounced 
the crest is at the frond tip, the greater the probability that 
•the cresting will extend to the minor divisions ; and the 
cases are rare where these latter are markedly crested and 
the frond tip scarceb/ so, and still more rare where the 
frond is well tasselled and the side divisions not at all. 

A peculiar feature of the tasselled ferns is their unreduced 
fertility as regards spores, the sori being almost invariably 
extended into the cresting in robust plants. This fact is 
the more remarkable, as generally w^here the leafy area of 
a frond is abnormally extended, as in the plumose or extra 
divided Ferns, this is correlated with a reduced spore 
production or even with complete barrenness, as we may 
see in the crispum or frilled Hartstongues and the several 
forms of Polypodiiun camhviciim. This difference is, how- 
ever, partly accounted for by the fact that in many crested 
forms of Ferns the minor divisions are more or less 
contracted as if to counterbalance the extra area involved 
in the tassel at their tips. 

As a rule, the spores of crested Ferns reproduce the 
cresting truly, but not infrequently their progeny varies so 
that a batch of seedlings may consist of exact reproductions 
of the parental type mixed with others which are of more 
marked character or the reverse, and even without crests at 
all ; these last, however, are never, in our experience, normal 
unless the parent is normal, with only a somewhat variable 
crest on merely forked lines, indicating inconstancy or lack 
of fixity of type. The faculty of cresting is very often 
associated with other abnormal characters, such as 
congested or extra foliose or more finely-cut frondage, and 
as the tassels themselves differ very widely in character, some 


being dense, others iax, some on fan-like plans, others 
corymbose or bunchy, some long and pendulous and others 
stiftand erect, the number of distinct varieties is very great, 
especially as it has been demonstrated that crossing is 
practicable, so that crests have been imparted thereby to 
non-crested varieties endowed with other characters. 

C. T. D. 

FERN W^ONDERS. 

Few people when on their holiday rambles they see the 
common Ferns of the wayside lining the hedges and ditches, 
or, penetrating into the woods and glens, find them forming 
the chief vegetation, filling every chink and cranny with 
their feathery verdure, reflect or know that in the dim and 
distant past, such a growth, on a more luxuriant scale was 
slowly building up the Coal upon which the material pros- 
perity of Britain is so largely founded. Yet in those old 
days, Ferns and their allies, only differing in minor details 
from those of the present, century after century, sucked up 
the carbonic acid in the air around them, built the solid 
carbon into their tissues, and eventually, as generation 
after generation died and decayed banked up, as it were, this 
imperishable element for man to use thousands of centuries 
later. This is no scientific guesswork, the very fern-fronds, 
as every coal miner knows, are often to be seen intact and 
recognizable when the virgin coal is split by the pick, and 
scores of species have been thus found and identified as 
close relatives of our Ferns of to-day, At the Coal 
Exchange, London, is a fine collection open to the view of 

the incredulous. 

Ferns to-day, owing to their lack of flowers, take a back 

seat with lovers of bright colours, but, wonder number two, 

even as our coal tar yields our aniline dyes, so it is evident 

that in those simple green fronds lie bottled-up rainbows 

resolvable by the alchemy of time into their most brilliant 

hues, so that many a dame decked in the brightest tints, 

outrivalling the rose itself, owes her borrowed colours to 

the ferns of aeons past. 


114 

Wonder number three. So careful is Nature of these 
first-born children of hers, that every season, instead of the 
few hundred or thousand seeds yielded by her floral 
offspring, Ferns cast off millions upon millions of spores, 
each capable of yielding not one but more, so that a single 
plant could people a district in one generation. Eleven 
hundred millions were estimated by the writer as the crop 
of one Lady Fern in one season. 

But wonder number four, with which we will conclude, 
though not exhausting our list, is the singular lact that our 
native British species, some forty odd only, have yielded 
far and away more " sports " or beautiful varieties than all 
the rest of the world's species put together, some four or five 
thousand, indeed, can be distinguished as quite distinct by 
connoisseurs, and the bulk of these have been found wild in 
our woods and hedges of the western counties and else- 
where where Ferns grow profusely. At Kevv Gardens 
there are two or three thousand, forming such a collection 
as exists nowhere else in the world. These varieties are 
mostly charmingly tasselled at all their tips, or curled or 
finely cut, so as to be far more beautiful than the common 
forms, others are oddly varied and though, perhaps, more 
curious than beautiful, are extremely interesting. 

We must, however, add another wonder, for it is perhaps 
the biggest of all in this special connection and that is that, 
even as a prophet has no honour in his own country, so 
this unique British branch of botanical study has been until 
recently so far ignored by nurserymen, horticulturists and 
gardeners generally, that the true British Fern fanciers are 
few and far between, and the popular idea is, or rather was, 
that they are fairly represented by the wild weed forms 
obtainable froai the street hawker at a penny a root. 

C. T. D. 

VARIEGATED HARTSTONGUES. 

So many disappointments have been connected with 
presumed variegated Hartstongues that the expert is rarely 


ii5 

satisfied when a specimen is brought before his notice 
that it is likely to remain so, and we have even heard 
doubts expressed as to the existence of a really constant 
form. The reason of this uncertainty lies in the fact that 
this species and its varieties is peculiarly prone to assume 
a decidedly yellow tint, sometimes with stripes or mott- 
lings of the normal green colour, when something in the 
soil or the environment disagrees with it, and as a rule this 
phenomenon is noted in plants which are exposed to bright 
sunshine. Recently we were shewn a considerable number 
of very diverse varieties in the garden of Mr. W. B. Cran- 
field, at Enfield Chase, nearly all of which were variegated 
as described, and yet they all belonged to batches of 
seedlings or divisions of the same varieties which had 
been planted elsewhere, and were there all of the same 
normal green colour without a trace of variegation. 
None of them, however, were robust and healthy, and they 
were all, like many associated other species in the sarrbe 
plot, more or less out of condition, the soil having become 
waterlogged and sour. Here obviously was conclusive 
proof that variegation may be temporarily assumed when 
soil or other conditions are unfavourable. On the other 
hand, a large and very strikingly variegated but otherwise 
normal Hartstongue, found by the writer in 1909 at 
Staverton, in Devon, with most of the fronds of a bright 
golden yellow throughout, and the rest more or less striped 
or mottled, was growing in a most congenial position on 
the low bank of a small stream, and by its large size and 
development was obviously in perfect health. It was, 
however, quite unsheltered from the sun, and when carefully 
lifted, potted and placed under glass, although the following 
season, it grew again to full size, not a trace of variegation 
appeared. In this case then it was clear that the varie- 
gation was induced by extra bright illumination rather 
than by any other handicap to healthy growth. Variega- 
tion of this class, which is solely due to local influence and 
disappears under change of environment, cannot therefore 


ii6 

be regarded as a true varietal character, and it is certainly 
to this class that the great majority of so-called variegated 
Hartstongues belong, and it is hopeless to expect that more 
marked and constant forms can be raised from their spores. 
That truly variegated Hartstongues exist is, however, 
beyond a doubt. In Mr. Cranfield's garden we saw a 
specimen derived from the collection of the late Mr. Moly, 
and found by him, in which, amid a majority of normally 
green fronds, there were a few bearing definite and closely- 
placed pure white stripes, obviously an inherent character 
and quite distinct from the common indefinite yellow types 
above described. This plant had previously shewn the 
character associated with little or no reversion, and must 
therefore be ranked as constant so far as the innate 
tendency to produce pure white stripes was concerned. 
From Mr. Amos Perry's large collection at Enfield we 
were fortunate enough to obtain two promising specimens, 
one a nearly normal and the other a pretty capitate form, 
which when acquired were of a lemon yellow throughout, 
and both of these, after two seasons' growth under glass, 
have thrown fronds of vigorous healthy growth, but one 
and all of the same pale yellow tint, so that we are per- 
suaded that at last we have not one but two constantly 
variegated specimens, from which we hope to raise a brood. 
We have heard of marginally variegated Hartstongues 
being found, i.e. with quite white edgings, but have never 
been able to obtain confirmatory fronds, and should be 
very glad to hear of such. Several plants were found in 
Devon by Mr. Cranfield and the writer with light green 
fronds striped here and there with the darker normal 
green, and these shew the same appearance this season, 
fairly markedly in Mr. Cranfield's case but somewhat less 
so in ours. Here again then there is an approach to 
constancy, which might yield better results if sown from. 
A very markedly yellow variety of crisptim, obtained from 
an exposed position on the rockery of Sir Frank Crisp, at 
Henley, grew vigorously under glass but shewed there no 


TI7 

tendency towards the light colour, but when transferred to 
the open, a sunny situation such as it liad previously 
occupied, that central portion of all the fronds which should 
have been yellow remained quite healthy but became a 
reddish brown, the edges remaining green, shewing thus that 
the partial variegation was due to a partial constitutionrd 
difference in the chlorophyllic response to direct sunshine. 

Should any of the members of the Society possess really 
constant specimens which remain true under the ordinary 
sheltered conditions and are not apparently handicapped in 
any way by undue exposure, the writer would be happy to 
receive fronds and particulars, so that some of the un- 
certainty in this connection may be removed. Under 
natural conditions, where Hartstongues are abundant on 
old walls and in the woods and hedgerows, the yellow 
colour pervading the fronds as seen in some collections is 
extremely rarely seen, and is undoubtedly due in those 
collections, as a rule, to something unfavourable to proper 
development, a sort of chlorophyllic anemia. C. T. D. 


EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENT ON 

VARIATION. 

At Christmas, igo8, a very marked form of Hartstongue 
was found by the writer at Babbacombe, near Torquay, 
growing high up on a road-side wall. When noted it was 
a fairly vigorous plant for its situation, having several 
fronds six or seven inches long, all of which were very 
ramose, being divided into numerous spreading narrow 
segments, resembling stag-horns, and of hard tough tex- 
ture. As it was tightly frozen into a mere chink, only as 
much of the condex could be extracted by cutting to secure 
the visible growth with a few rootlets, quite sufficient, 
however, in this species to secure future growth under 
proper culture. It was carefully potted and placed in a 
Wardian case, and in the course of the following season 
grew vigorously and developed a number of fronds. These 
however, were of quite a different type to the original 


ii8 

ones, resolving themselves into two forms, one quite thin 
and papery and with merely dilated tips or small crests, 
while the others, of somewhat tougher character, were 
branched into leafy divisions, each of which was branch- 
crested on flat lines, but in nowise resembling the stag- 
horn type. Upon the surfaces of the basal lobes of all these 
latter fronds, but on only one or two of the other type, one 
or two strong bulbils appeared, and also a few small ones 
on the stalks below the lobes, while one very strong one 
appeared on the surface close to the angle of separation of 
a branched frond. The form of viviparousness is very rare 
in the Hartstongue, and only one other case of lobe bulbils, 
and that on a minor scale, has come within our ken. By 
the end of the season of 1909 the plant formed a bush of 
several crowns, and was a handsome specimen. 

This season it resumed growth vigorously in the spring, 
but this time the fronds were all much more on normal 
lines, though in all cases bearing flat crests, they were 
much longer and only here and there quite small bulbils 
appeared of a brown colour, which shewed no tendency to 
develop, as did the previous ones, aerial roots and frondlets, 
though still, as will be noted, growing under the same close 
conditions as before. It will thus be seen that the plant 
has passed through three stages, first that of a narrowly- 
branched tough stag-horn type, in which the viviparous 
character was not noticed, though possibly present; 
secondly, a more foliose thinner-fronded stage, accompanied 
by branching and cresting on dimorphic lines and with 
proliferous buds of a vigorous character, forming several 
fronds and aerial roots in situ, and finally a form little better 
than an ordinary crested and otherwise normal one. 

We have now transferred the plant to the open in a 
somev;hat sheltered bed, and it will be interesting to note 
whether, restored to open air conditions, it will resume the 
original stag-horn type, or whether the series of changes 
prelude entire reversion to the normal. This, of course, 
remains for the next season's growth to shew. 


119 

It is difficult to draw any particular conclusion from the 
facts of this case, but we think it merits record as a singular 
example of how different environment may affect a varietal 
form, and we should be glad to have particulars of other 
cases which may have been observed of a like nature. It 
is of course well known that varietal characters are a]^t 
to be much less marked in plants which are out of con- 
dition and stunted by unfavourable factors, but here the 
changes have been accompanied and indeed appear due to 
growth stimulated to the utmost and vigorous and healthy 
from the start, although, since repotting was certainly 
needed when the transfer was made to the open, the third 
stage may possibly be due to root restriction. C. T. D. 


POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM 
*' GRACILLIMUM." 

This very beautiful section of the Hard Shield Fern 
family has been fully described and figured in the early 
number of the Gazette (pp. 3, 24 and 50). Its sudden 
appearance in a fair percentage of seedlings oipulchevriinum, 
and its unique character, rendered it an interesting question 
whether another sowing would give like results. Fortu- 
nately last season another plant shewed spores, and these 
being sown, our readers will be interested in learning that 
the new and slender character is already clearly perceptible 
in a number of the youngsters, so that a second batch of 
acquisitions on similar, or, judging by the diversity in the 
first batch, even new lines may be confidently anticipated 
in the near future. Ed. 


NEW FERNS. 

At a recent visit to Messrs. H. B. May & Sons' Nurseries, 
at Edmonton, we were shewn a new and improved form of 
A. f.f. congestuin minns, into which '' setigeyum" blood has 
apparently found its way ; the ultimate divisions of the 
fronds being beautifully crispy and bristly, while the 


I 20 

charmingly dense and compact growth is unaffected. Both 
crested and uncrested forms had originated from a sowing 
of A. f.f. congestum viinus cristatum, a good few plants 
showing the new character very distinctly and much 
improving the delicate appearance of the plants. It has 
been provisionally named A . f.f. congestum minus firnhviatum 
and ditto cristatum, as the case may be. A prettier dwarf 
form can hardly be imagined. 

Another new variety was Lastrea filix mas Bavnesii 
cvispa cristata. A crispate variety of Bavnesii has been 
known for some little time, in which the short oval pinna of 
Bavnesii is clearly distinguishable, though prettily curled 
and crisped, but in this the additional charm of well- 
developed bunch tassels at all tips is presented to good 
effect. We believe, however, that so far only one specimen 
exists, which, however, will certainly be propagated as soon 
as possible. We have often wondered what some of our 
old Fern pioneers, who have long joined the majority, 
would think if they could see some of the latest develop- 
ments from their " finds " or acquisitions. Certainly, 
w^hatever their pleasure in finding or acquiring the original 
progenitors of such gems, they never anticipated the potency 
within them of producing such advanced types as they 
have done. 

C. T. D. 


LIST OF NEW MEMBERS. 

Mr. J. Chapman, The Gardens, Westonbirt, Tetbury. 

M. B. Barrel, 10, Avenue d'lena, Paris. 

Mr. Jas. Davidson, Sommerville House, Dumfries. 

Mr. William Jas. Shaw, 23, Nesterville Avenue, Belfast. 

Mr. Frederick Start, East Lodge Gardens, Enfield Chase. 

Mr. H. H. Raschen, 56, Liverpool Road, Birkdale, Southport. 

Mr. F. A. Edelsten, The Elms, Forty Hill, Enfield. 

Sn- Frank Crisp, Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames. 

Mr. TL Relton, Underfell, Low Fell, Nr. Gateshead. 

Mr. J. C. Rugman, Plusterwine, Woolaston, Nr. Lydney, Glos. 


THE BOOK OF BRITISH FERNS. 

This book constitutes an invaluable guide to the selection 
of the best forms for high-class collections. It was compiled 
by the Editor, with the assistance of a Committee of the 
British Pteridological Society, all experts, and contains 
descriptions of about 700 of the choicest forms, illustrated 
profusely, and accompanied by chapters on Fern Culture, 
Fern Hunting, and indeed all matters of interest in connec- 
tion with the cult. It can be obtained from the Hon. Secre- 
tary and Editor, Mr. Chas. T. Druery, 11, Shaa Road, Acton, 
London, for 3s. gd., post free, and may be regarded as 
absolutely indispensable to the real lover and grower of 
British Ferns and their varieties. 

N.B. — As the covers of the few remaining copies 
in stock have become discoloured by damp, these 
will be supplied for 2s. gd., post free, instead of 
3s. gd,, the published price. Early application is 
advisable. 


AMERICAN FERNS. 

There are more than 300 Species of Fernworts 
in the United States and Canada, and an immense 
number of varieties. A majority of British ferns 
are among the number. Read what the Americans 
have found out about them in 

Ubc jfern Bulletin, 

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 

Many new Species and Forms have been 
described and illustrated in its pages. 

Annual Subscriptlonj 3s. post free. 

A Set of the 13 Volumes still In print will 
be sent for 36 shillings, post free. 

Sample Copy for a Penny Stamp, 
Six Different Numbers for One Shilling 

Address —WILLARD N. CLUTE &. Co., Joliet. III., U.S.A. 


FERNS. 


* * * 

H. B. MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sizes, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

* * * 

stove, 6r($ttl)ou$e. and otDer Plants 
. . .are also laruclp arotvn. . . . 

* * * 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants can be had post free 
upon application to— 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDMONTON. 


VOL. I. No. 6. 


♦ ♦ ♦ wDv ♦ ♦ ♦ 


JBritieb jf em 
©asette. 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


December, 1910. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H,, F.L.S. 


PUBLISHED BV 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Hon. Secretary, C. T. Druery, ii, Shaa Rd., Acton, London, W.) 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


u 
z 

(I) 

2 

Ci] 
» 

O 

d 


THE 

BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 

Vol. I. DECEMBER, 1910. No. 6. 

CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Editorial Notes ., .. .. .. .. .. .. 121 

Our Frontispiece .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 122 

"My Fernery," by Mr, C. B. Green 123 

British Ferns of the Future 126 

British Ferns in Gloucestershire, by Rev. E. H. Hawkins 129 

A Successful Spore Sowing .. .. .. .. .. 133 

The Pedigree of A.f.f. Kalothrix, by Dr. F.W. Stansfield 137 

New Ferns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 141 

List of New Members .. .. .. .. .. .. 144 

"British Ferns and their Varieties" .. .. .. 144 


EDITORIAL NOTES. 

The Editor is greatly pleased that in this issue he has 
been enabled to subordinate to a considerable extent the 
hitherto inevitable C.T.D. element, several members of the 
B.P.S. having kindly contributed their knowledge to its 
contents. Dr. F. W. Stansfield's account of the Kalothrix 
pedigree is peculiarly interesting as throwing some light on 
the origin of that unique Lady Fern, and accepting his 
views as correct, it is gratifying to know that in this 
instance, as in so many others, we owe this acquisition 
entirely to Dame Nature's inspiration, though it is by pure 
chance that the original wild form should have re-asserted 
itself so many decades after it had practically disappeared. 
To Mr. C. B. Green, too, we are indebted for our frontis- 
piece, and his interesting notes on the numerous members 
of the Fern aristocracy which it depicts. The Rev. E. H. 
Hawkins also contributes a welcome article on Gloucester- 
shire Ferns. With our now considerable membership, 
however, we must again appeal for more support of this 


I 22 

class. Many must have had experiences in Fern hunting 
and raising which would interest others, and if the pen be 
a somewhat reluctant or unaccustomed aid to such records, 
the Editor will be glad to supplement any notes by putting 
practical material into form. 

Numerous very gratifying recognitions of the value of 
the "Gazette" have been received, but we should much 
like to increase its attractions pictorially, and also even in 
volume. Here, however, the question of funds is involved, 
and as this would only be practicable by an increased 
number of subscriptions, the Editor w^ould ask the existing 
members individually to bring the Society before their fern- 
loving friends who are non-subscribers, and do their level 
best to enlist them in our ranks. If each member would 
not rest until he had enlisted one new one, our object would 
be attained, and the value of the "Gazette" be corre- 
spondingly increased. A specimen number will be willingly 
sent to prospective members, and the small subscription of 
5s. per annum, entitling to membership and four issues of 
the " Gazette," is moderate enough to reach all pockets. 

II, Shaa Road, The Editor. 

Acton, London, W. 

N.B. — Less than a dozen of the copies of " The Book of 
British Ferns," with soiled covers, remain unsold, and can 
be supplied to members at the reduced price of 2s. gd. post 
free. These exhaust the Society's stock of the work. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

Our member, Mr. C. B. Green, of Acton, has very kindly 
provided the photograph of his Fernery, which has been 
here reproduced. The following article, entitled " My 
Fernery," describes its contents, together with some very 
interesting observations on their culture, etc., which we 
have persuaded him to extend, and which will he continued 
in our next issue. 


123 

"MY FERNERY." 
By Mr. C. B. Green. 

Although nearly all our British Ferns, and their varieties, 
are capable of withstanding a very low temperature, yet in 
and about large towns it is desirable, in the interest of the 
ferns themselves, to provide some sort of protection from 
the dirt and dust and foul gases incident to all districts 
where houses are crowded together. Hence my choice 
varieties have been collected under glass, and although 
this involves constant supervision and some self-denial? 
still, '' the labour we delight in physics pain." 

For the benefit of possible imitators, I may say that the 
dimensions of my small Fernery are 20 feet by 12 feet, 
with corresponding head-room. On one side a rockery 
about 3 feet wide runs the whole length of the house, while 
on the other a border of the same width, including one end, 
is the prevailing feature. This gives me a clear space of 
17 feet by 6 feet, which is concreted, and on which I stand 
my specimen plants in pots, or otherwise elevate them on 
drain-pipes, as befits their beauty. 

Roller -blinds are preferred to screen them from the sun, 
and top and bottom ventilation is adopted to secure a free 
circulation of air. 

This, in short, is the arrangement of " My Fernery," and 
now for the Ferns, its raison d'etre. In the frontispiece, 
which is from a photograph taken as recently as August, 
the Ferns on either hand in the immediate foreground are 
representatives of one of the most amazing sections of our 
lovely Shield Ferns. 

Polysticimm angtdave plumoso-divisilohum Esplan is worthy 
of its elongated designation, and came to me as a bulbil 
from our old friend Mr. Whitwell in 1899 ; while P. a. 
plumosissiinum was sent me as a tiny plant by Dr. Stansfield 
three years ago. This latter fern, however, while 
characteristic of its name, is not quite so " sissimum " as 
the one illustrated in " The Book of British Ferns," which 
was presumably grown in a warm house. 


124 

It is, however, a superb thing, and I would not be with- 
out it, so I think it will be conceded that these two ferns 
area very fitting introduction to "My Fernery." In fact, 
I may here say that these self-same plants have had so 
much influence over a near neighbour of mine as to turn 
him into a pteridologist ! His next step, therefore, ought 
to be " incorporation " in the B.P.S. 

Other Polystichums of the phimoso-divisilohim type are 
Gviminondii, laxtim, and densiim Fox ; while pUimosmns proper 
— only a degree or two less beautiful — are represented by 
Moley, Patey, and WoUaston, all, by the way, true wild 
finds. To still recede slightly we have such good things 
as Crawfoydianum, decompositum Pearson, cvistaUim Ivery, 
gvandidens Fitt, acvocladon Mapplebeck, cvistaUim and longi- 
pinnatum Carbonell, pevfecUim and nitescens Jones, and that 
silken beauty setoso-cuncatum Phillips. 

Longipinnatum and nitescens came my way through Mr. 
Whitwell. The former makes a splendid basket plant, 
while the latter nitescens would be equally suitable, for the 
fronds are exceedingly soft and lax. 

Turning now from the Soft Shield Ferns it will perhaps 
be pardonable, under the circumstances, if I refer with 
more gusto to the Hard Shield section. 

Although the varieties here are few comparatively, there 
is one which is not only "beautiful " but unique — P. acnlea- 
tum pulchevvimnm. This fern, then, is a host in itself, and 
is, just now, in special favour with Mr. Druery and 
myself, for the sporing of this previously presumed sterile 
variety in " My Fernery," in 1903, has resulted in such a 
progeny of symmetrical youngsters that superlatives seem 
superfluous to specify their superiority. 

They must be seen to be appreciated. As, however, 
this unique evolution or break-away from the parent 
form has been well told in the " Gazette," and other 
journals, I will content myself by referring to the illustra- 
tion, where in the middle distance, and nearly central, my 
plnmosiun appears ; and on either side and above some 


J25 

others of the gvacillunum type. I think I may, therefore, 
without excess of pride, conclude that these plants alone 
have justified the existence of *' My Fernery." 

With reference to the parent plant, I have just been 
overhauling it ; and although some substantial divisions 
were extracted from it three years ago, it is still a grand 
specimen. Its fronds number over sixty, and many of 
them are four feet long. 

This vigour, of course, is due to planting out. 

As to watering — well, w^hen a plant like this gets 
thirsty half a drink is worse than none at all ; in fact, 
these large specimens are terrible dipsomaniacs, and 
remind me of the farmer who drove up to an inn and after 
tasting a couple of quarts said **he thought he'd now git 
down and 'ave some ! " 

From Shield Ferns to Lady Ferns is not a great way, 
for both are aristocrats in refinement and delicacy of 
detail. ' But while the Lady Ferns may be regarded as 
early summer visitants only, the other section is always 
with us. And although in this case familiarity does not 
breed contempt, it must be admitted that the deciduous 
character of a plumose Lady Fern is such as hardly to 
allow one sufficient time to become "familiar." When I 
refer to a plumose variety of Athyvium Filix-foemina, I have 
in mind the unrivalled forms of Mr. Druery's raising. 
As I possess all, or nearly all, of this snperhum strain — 
mainly through the generosity of the raiser — I have many 
opportunities of observing their superiority. They are 
planted in my border alternately with evergreen varieties. 
Thus they illustrate, so to speak, a progression of beauty 
from Axminstevense to Dvuevyii. These are still in fair 
condition for the time of year (October), which fact again 
is due to border culture. There are several other Lady 
Ferns whose condition is improved and prolonged by this 
treatment. A. f.f. Elwovthii, for instance, is a huge 
clump with fronds over four feet long; while />ercvistatum, 
Cousens X Kalothrix, has over forty fronds about three feet 

B 


126 

long, the pinncX of which msasure over eight inches. 
Moreover, the habit is shuttle-cock-like with gracefully 
pendant foliose fronds. 

{To he continued.) 


BRITISH FERNS OF THE FUTURE.- 

When we compare the wonderful and beautiful varieties 

of British Ferns with those which were in existence half a 

century ago, the question naturally arises whether such 

advance can be continued on the same scale, or whether 

sooner or later the possibilities will be exhausted. At the 

time referred to, judging by the published catalogues of 

the period, really fine symmetrical and constant varieties 

were very few, and consisted mainly of wild finds, that is, 

finds which had only been propagated by offsets and not 

by spores, so that practically all the specimens extant of 

the particular type were identical. The rest of the 

varieties on the market consisted largely of irregular and 

defective types, which had resulted from injudicious 

sowing of erratic forms, a number of w^hich, experience 

has shown, are far more apt to propagate themselves 

spontaneously than are the better types. This fact led to 

their introduction as easily-raised market plants, whose 

value was then apparently determined by their curious 

character : the greater their eccentricity the higher the 

price. The number of these eventually so far exceeded 

that of the " thoroughbreds " that a revulsion of taste was 

inevitable, and, for decades, the popular idea of British 

Fern varieties, if any idea was formed at all during the 

period of depression, was that they were more ugly than 

beautiful, and hence unworthy of attention. Meanwhile, 

however, the handful of enthusiasts who, by their own 

discoveries and selective culture, had become acquainted 

with the finer varieties, were more and more encouraged 

by the results they had attained, and by degrees worked up 

collections of most beautiful, thoroughbred types, which in 

'■'■'• By permission of the Gatdcncrs' Chronicle. 


I 27 

time eclipsed, in charm of plumy dissection, or ornate 
tasselling, or frilling, anything which could be found 
among exotic varieties. Every now and again, too, 
altogether unexpected results occurred among the spore 
sowings, new strains coming to light in this way which 
surpassed their predecessors in delicacy and grace, and it 
also became clear that the possibilities of combining such 
charms by hybridising were fully demonstrated, both by 
systematic cross-fertilisation and chance results of mixed 
sowings. Now,' in our opinion, it is this last phase of Fern 
culture which widens the horizon of future possibilities. 
So little comparatively has it been worked out that we may 
count the recognised crosses upon our fingers, and in this 
connection the example of Poly podium ScJuieideri, a success- 
ful cross between the two different species of Polypodiufji, 
P. glaucum, a large growing, tender exotic and P. vulgare 
covuubiense [elegant issiumm), a beautifully-divided form of the 
hardy, common Polypody, indicates an immense field of 
utility in the direction of decorative plants. True, it may 
be argued that we cannot legitimately claim such results 
as British Ferns proper, but if it is our British Fern of an 
abnormal but beautiful type, which imparts its particular 
charm to a purely normal exotic, we are surely entitled to 
claim the major part of the merit involved, especially if 
the results be, as it is largely in Polypodmin Schneideri, and 
might be entirely in less tender species, the production of 
nearly or quite hardy plants possessing the charm both of 
the exotic form and that of the home variety. We recom- 
mend this field to the particular attention of exotic Fern 
growers, whose possession of warm greenhouses gives 
them special facilities for experiments, which can take the 
simple form of persistently sowing spores of fine British 
varieties with those of allied exotic species on the offchance 
of a cross. But, apart from such experiments, there are 
innumerable British varieties of one and the same species 
which would be greatly enhanced in beauty could the 
charm of another variety be added. We will take the 


128 

common Polypody forms as a type. P. v. covmihiense has 
already been crossed with P. v. hifido-miiltifidum so as to 
obtain a crested cormihiense. Covmihiense^ however, is an 
erratic Fern, and persistently transmits its erratic character 
to its offspring even, as we see in P. Schneideri, when 
crossed with another species. P. v. pulchevriinnm, however, 
is a thoroughbred tripinnate form, and a successful cross 
between this and P. v. cvistatnm or P. v. grandiceps Fox or 
Forster could not fail to form a handsome combination 
unlike anything we possess. To revert to exotic blood 
there are, on the other hand, a number of simple fronded, 
exotic Polypodiujjis, which, if they could be induced by the 
gentle influence of pnlcherrimiim to bear tripinnate fronds 
instead of simple or pinnate ones, would be far more 
ornamental than they are at present. In another genus, 
the Polystichums, we have numerous exotic forms, some 
like P. setostim, perfectly hardy and very distinct from our 
native species, though viewed by some botanists as a form 
of P. aciileatiim, which could be improved by crossing with 
some of the finely-crested plwnosiims or cristatums. As 
there is no doubt that many of the exotics are very closely 
allied indeed to our home species, the chances in this 
direction are very great. P. setosum is a fairly common 
market plant here, and we strongly advise, in connection 
with it, the procedure advocated above. In the Spleenwort 
family, too, a race, as a rule, peculiarly constant to the 
normal type, we have marked exceptions to this rule in the 
crested forms of our native Asplenium tricliomanes and 
Scolopendvhim vulgare. Fortunately for such experiments, 
difference in size forms no bar to crossing, and, in the 
initial stages, the growths vary little in their dimensions. 
Hence we have no such obstacles to crossing as are 
involved in the fine adaptations of size of pollen grains to 
length of style incidental to flowering plants. The main 
obstacles to the cross-breeding of Ferns consist, apart from 
wide generic differences, in differences in the rapidity in 
germination of the spores. A little study, however, may 


129 

enable this to be overcome by sowing the spores at different 
times. In any case, the field of experiment is large, the 
difficulties to be overcome but trifling, whilst any results 
obtained must be valuable, since, even though crossing 
resulted in failure, the progeny of such good forms as 
should only be used, would have their commercial value. 

Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


BRITISH FERNS IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 

By the Rev. E. H. Hawkins. 

I venture to make a contribution to our " Gazette " on the 
grounds that I have been a fern-lover for forty years, and 
further for the past thirty-five years I have been a very 
constant admirer of those wonderful plants collected and 
bred by the late Colonel Jones, and which are still under 
the unremitting care of my good friend jNIr. Harris, super- 
intendent of the Clifton Zoological Gardens. 

I cannot but think there is a great future for British 
ferns. Fernists have made their peace with florists and 
gardeners. It is not now a question of flowers versus ferns 
— "both are best" — and every garden can provide the 
proper place for each kind of plant. Gardeners, too, have 
come to this conclusion. " Monstrosities " are dead, they 
did much harm before they were relegated to the dust 
heap. Shewn to the uninitiated as things of beauty and 
of joy, they quenched any incipient desire of possession. 
There must be no place for the unshapely things, incon- 
stant even in their ugliness. We have such a glorious 
heritage from those who have gone before us, plants 
which, as Dr. Kingsmill jMoore has rightly said, " never 
fail to obtain a tribute of lasting admiration." 

Just at first the names are a source of terror and of 
helplessness to the beginner. A little time and patience 
get over all this — the dictionary, the lexicon, the school- 


^3^ 

master can be called in as " first aids." It will be found 
that the names are as a rule very appropriate, e.g. scopcB, 
acrocladon, corynihiferum, Polyst. aculeaUim gracillimum, is, 
notwithstanding all that has been written contrariwise, very 
applicable to INIr. Druery's latest and best. 

It may not be out of place if I say what Gloucestershire 
can do in the way of ferns. 

Two years ago my friend, the Rev. S. Hillard, now of 
Bedford, shewed me a frond of Aspleniujii fonfanum which he 
had just found growing wild in Chalford, near Stroud. The 
plant is still there, so far as he and I are concerned, but 
alas ! we cannot find it. 

ScoL spivak was found at Nailsworth, and crispiim 
Cowhiirnii at Chepstow, which is just in and out of 
Gloucestershire. 

Polypodiiun calcareum grows freely on rubbly hillsides ; but 
the hawker, wretched man, is doing his utmost to destroy 
it root and branch. 

Gloucestershire will always rank high among the 
counties because of Colonel Jones' collection at the Clifton 
Gardens. They have already been described by Mr. 
Cranfield in the " Gazette." He remarked on the absence 
of certain varieties. All lime-loving ferns are there, with 
one very remarkable exception, there are no polypods — 
they were there in variety and abundance, but they all passed 
away — and if ferns cannot, or will not grow under the skill 
and care of Mr. Harris, Dr. Stansfield might safely include 
them among those cited in his article on " The Culture of 
some difficult British Ferns." Polypods do grow all over 
the county, yet only in a timid and half-hearted fashion. 

Ferns have other and stately homes in our Western 
shire, wherein they make a noble show, long to be 
remembered. My friend, I\Ir. S. S. Mailing, of Stanley 
Park, Stroud, has already a splendid collection, though 
yet young in years. They revel in their ideal surroundings, 
sheltered by the trees and nourished by the moisture from 
the lake. 


T3I 

There is seen the Atliyvmm in its manifold variety, but 
beyond all there is Polystichnm divisilobum phtmosmn in all 
its glorious shades and shapes of colour and form. No 
" withered cheek nor tresses grey " among them, the rusty 
tips are happily absent, for it is a plant that revels in the 
fresh air. 

Colonel Sir George Holford, of Westonbirt, Tetbury, 
has, too, a collection of British Ferns which adds even to 
the beauty of his beautiful grounds. They are all carefully 
selected plants, "Monstrosities" are rigorously excluded, 
and the number of good ones is increased yearly. 

Mr. Thos. Kingscote, M.V.O., of Cirencester, has also 
joined the ranks of Gloucestershire fern-growers, his bold 
and beautiful rockeries are already rich in ferns of the first 
water. I think I am right in predicting a prosperous 
future for the once despised fern — " only British or hardy, 
you know." 

In these days of Form IV. it is not happily given to 
many of us to be possessors of broad acres or extensive 
grounds, yet we have, most of us, a backyard and a 
corner of the garden facing north — such are my humble 
possessions. Here I succeed in growing, or rather the 
plants are good enough to grow for me, in many 
varieties. 

My study looks out on a yard facing due north — it was 
such a horrid hole — unsightly winter and summer, dismal 
beyond words, dull, damp, moss-covered gravel — who 
could redeem it? A few cart-loads of stones became a 
rough and natural-looking rockery. There are plants there 
thirty-five years old, still flourishing in their old age, for I 
keep them to the one crown. I have them ancient and 
modern, for who would not provide a place for at least 
some of the newest and best ? 

Of course, my friends and I have our enemies — my 
greatest are the cold winds of the early spring, and when 
shall we have again a seasonable spring ? After various 
experiments, pcfts, pans and frames of glass, I have 


132 

found suspended nets the best and simplest protection — 
but even so I, too, often lose the first fronds. 

Writing only from my own experience, I am on the 
whole more satisfied with my plants grown in pots under 
glass than those grown in the ground and under glass ; 
the former can be removed outdoors in the hot weather, 
they do so well in the shady corner ; the latter grow more 
luxuriantly, but I think they are apt to lose their distinctive 
character. 

I know it's wrong, I know the pain and disappointment 
of the days to [come in attempting to grow Polyst. ang. 
divisilohiim phimosnm in glass-covered ground, yet I cannot 
resist it, there is nothing equal to the charm and beauty 
of the early fronds ere the rust sets in. I can only plead 
my countryman's excuse, " Better be a coward for half an 
hour than dead all your life." 

Some of our friends may be about to start fern-growing, 
if so it may not be out of place if I give them a few words 
of advice. It is useless to grow ferns among and under 
trees without some spade work. I suggest, then, that the 
space be dug out, the bottom slated, or better still 
concreted, and the sides protected with corrugated sheets 
of iron. After making a drainage of stones fill up the 
bed with leaf mould and loam. Result, you will have a 
bed undisturbed by roots for years to come. My second 
word of advice is this, have nothing to do with fern 
hawkers. We are fortunate in our leading men in the 
trade, they can be trusted absolutely. Beginners 
cannot do better than put themselves in their hands, 
they will get plants suitable to the various soils and 
localities, and with them cultural directions are always 
good. 

Wild finds and seedlings of one's own growing will 
come later. In the language of the late Mr. Lowe, " atten- 
tion to the above remarks may prevent disappointment." 

I am inclined to think that ferns, like potatoes and 
human beings, are fond of a change of air and scene. 


^33 

I am experimenting on the best of all Polypods, 
'' sejnilaceritju," imported from Cork. In its first year it 
did badly, suffered as an exile or a rebel, out of sympathy 
with its Saxon neighbours — close proximity to its Welsh 
relatives reconciled it. Now in its third year it holds out 
a promise, dare I venture to hope, of omnilacevum. In 
historic languiige, " I shall wait and see." 


A SUCCESSFUL SPORE SOWING. 

Since the sowing of Fern spores, on judicious lines, 
undoubtedly forms one of the most interesting branches 
of British Fern study, a few notes regarding a particularly 
successful sowing may not be out of place as indicating 
the right course to pursue. In July, of last year, stimu- 
lated by the wonderful crop which had resulted from a 
previous sowing from that beautiful thoroughbred 
Polystichwn aculeaUim pulchervumim, the results of which 
have already been described and illustrated in the first 
numbers of the "Gazette," I carefully examined my 
plant, a division of which, given some years back to 
Mr. C. B. Green, had yielded the few spores from which 
such an unexpected crop had arisen. It wall be noted 
that although practically the same plant, the separate 
divisions had been grown for years in different ferneries 
in different hands, and to a certain extent in different 
ways, since Mr. Green's plant was established in the soil 
while mine had been grown from the outset in a large pot. 
To my great delight I found that, for the first time, a good 
number of spores appeared on my plants, though Mr. 
Green could find none on his much larger specimen, and, 
naturally, I lost no time in collecting some and making 
a fresh sowing. It was, of course, a very open question 
whether spores of another season and from a plant in a 
different environment would repeat the previous results, 
but in any case, even if only the beautiful parental form 
appeared, both time and labour would be well repaid. 


^34 

I therefore took two small shallow pans about five inches 
diameter by three deep, and having put plenty of drainage, 
filled them nearly full with fine open fern compost of 
loam, leaf mould with a little sand, pressing this down flat 
with the bottom of a similar pan. This done, I placed 
a piece of paper on the soil upon which I poured boiling 
water until scalding water ran freely away below. I then 
covered both ^\'ith glass slips and allowed them to get 
cold. Meanw^hile, I had severed the pinnules bearing the 
dot-like spore heaps and laid these upon a glass slip on 
the field of my microscope under a glass shade, and, after 
a few hours, on examination I found the glass fairly 
profusely peppered over with the shed spores escaped from 
the burst capsules. I then breathed upon the glass until 
it was covered with mist, when a small puff blew away 
the now dried pinnules and the empty spore cases and 
left the clean spores attached temporarily to the glass. 
By this it will be seen that I got rid of any conferval or 
other germs possibly adhering to the debris in question, 
and secured the purest possible culture on the already 
sterilized soil. I then tapped the glass slip gently over 
the two pans, distributing the spores as evenly as possible, 
and after covering them again with glass, installed them in 
a Wardian case facing north, standing them in two red- 
ware saucers containing a little water. 

In due coarse the liitle green prothalli made their 
appearance in great numbers and in a few months, 
assumed full size and became fairly crow^ded. No signs 
of the ferns proper appeared during the winter and even 
well into the spring, although the prothalli increased 
abnormally in size, they remained apparently otherwise 
in statu quo. About May, therefore, I poured tepid water 
over the prothalli, and also immersed the pots in water 
until the prothalli were flooded from below, and very 
shortly after the first fronds began to push up in quantity, 
and it became evident that more room was required than 
their crowded condition provided. Some pans, nine inches 


^35 

square by three inches deep, were therefore prepared and 
steriHzed by hot water as before, and small clumps of 
prothalli, about one-third of an inch across, were pricked 
out with a penknife and inserted an inch apart, being just 
pressed home by the finger in little cavities made to 
accommodate them. A sheet of glass was then laid over 
each pan, and these were placed on a well-lighted shelf. 
The result was, that in a few weeks the pans were as full 
of young plants as the original ones were of prothalli, 
necessitating the supply of further room. To afford this 
it was now^ necessary to separate not merely clumps of 
prothalli, but young rooted plants, and it is here perhaps 
that a hint is welcome as to how to do this with a 
minimum of loss where the crop is of such a character, 
that the loss of even a minute plant may mean the loss 
of a great prize. My plan is this. Each clump of 
youngsters resulting from a patch of prothalli is easily 
extracted intact. Taking a deep soup plate filled with 
water, the clump is immersed in this up to the young 
growth, and the soil is thus so softened and the roots so 
loosened, that beginning at the outside every individual 
plant can be coaxed away with its fronds and roots, and 
even the still adherent prothallus absolutely undamaged, 
not one being thus sacrificed. Other pans are now pre- 
pared, not necessarily sterilized this time, but of fine open 
soil, and, again, an inch apart the now individualized 
youngsters are inserted, and will now in a greenhouse 
reach a size large enough to enable them to display their 
character, when of course selection can be made, the 
best and most promising being extracted, again an easy 
task, since if the soil be thoroughly wetted, they can be 
extracted by a gentle pull, leaving the rest undisturbed. 
By acting as above, it is an actual fact that no check 
whatever is suffered in growth, quite the contrary indeed, 
for in the case under consideration Polystichums sown last 
July have now, in October of this year, fronds three to four 
inches long with vigorous growth in progress. It may 


136 

be well to mention that in pricking out the rooted Ferns 
the soil should be only just moist enough to permit of 
holes being made to accommodate the roots, each plant 
being pressed gently firm with the finger as it is installed. 
The pan being fi.lled in this way, it should be partly 
immersed in water until the water percolates from below 
to the surface and so saturates the soil, the operation is 
then completed. To prick out into wet soil does well 


enough for the prothallus, but is not so good for rooted 
plants as the method indicated. 

Now, as to the varietal results. Despite the difference 
of environment and individuality of the parents in both 
cases, the results of the second sowing are precisely as 
diverse as of the first, a considerable percentage of the 
young plants showing the same peculiar slenderness and 
length of the subdivisions as in the Druery f^racillimwns 


^2>7 

and Green plumosiim ; so that a second and equally 
promising hatch of '*gems" is practically secured. To 
give an idea of the wide diversity exhibited by the young 
plants, we have taken nature prints'^' of three fronds by way 
of illustration, No. i representing probable reversion 
toward the normal species, No. 2 a promising foliose form, 
and No. 3 an example of the true " gracillimum " or 
*'plumosum" type, which invariably stands out very 
distinctly from the others by its acute and long divisions. 
It is noteworthy that owing to the precautions taken to 
ensure a pure sowing and protect from subsequent stray 
spores, only two strays [cystopteris] made their appearance 
in the whole batch. C. T. D. 


THE PEDIGREE OF ATHYRIUM F.F. 

KALOTHRIX. 

By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 

The origin of this lovely fern is involved in some 
obscurity. The only facts certainly known are that, as a 
modern and living plant, it dates from 1870, when a ]\Ir. 
Howlett, an amateur grower at Oxford, raised a plant, or 
plants, from the spores of a form of A. f.f. plumosum 
which was then growing in the Oxford Botanic Garden. 
Stimulated by this result Mr. Sim, Foots Cray, then a 
prominent nurseryman, obtained a division of the Oxford 
plumosum and also one of a plumosum raised by J\Ir. 
Howlett from the same source. From one of these plants 
(he was not sure which) Mr. Sim raised in 1874 ^ batch of 
some hundreds of seedlings of which ten or twelve per 
cent, were kalothrix, the rest being plumose, subplumose, 
and normal forms of Athyrium f.f. The oldest known 
ancestor of kalothrix was then this plumosum in the 
Oxford Botanic Garden. Col. Jones (from whose notes 
accompanying his nature-prints the above records are 

'•' Simply with copying ink. 


138 

taken) states further that Mr. Baxter, the then curator at 
Oxford, wrote to him that the plant came from the Chelsea 
Botanical Gardens. There would seem to be some 
obscurity on this point, however, because it is stated that 
"it was for some time thought that the plumosum was an 
Irish form." Mr. Moore, of Chelsea, being referred to, 
said that if the plumosum came from Chelsea it must be a 
piece of the Horsfall plumosum, a crown of which had 
been sent thither by Messrs. Stansfield subsequently to its 
being exhibited for a certificate at South Kensington soon 
after its discovery — i.e. probably about 1861. Col. Jones 
goes on to remark very significantly : " It is strange, how- 
ever, considering the very marked tendency, in the seed- 
lings from the Oxford plant, to run in the kalothrix strain, 
that no similar trace of this strain should ever have been 
detected among the thousands of seedlings raised by 
Messrs. Stansfield and others from the Yorkshire plant." 
Strange indeed ! so much so that it is, to me, quite 
incredible that the parent of kalothrix can have been the 
Horsfall plumosum. 

What then of the tradition about an Irish form ? 
Several plumosums have, I believe, been found in Ireland 
— one I know by the late Mr. Tyerman — but from none of 
them, so far as is known, has kalothrix ever been raised 
apart from this Oxford plant. Apropos of this, another 
fact which, though interesting, at first sight appears to 
have no particular bearing upon the question, is recorded 
by Col. Jones, to wit — " In the Sherardian herbarium, 
Oxford Botanic Gardens, is to be seen a wild frond, 
gathered many years since in the Mourne Mountains, 
almost identical with kalothrix." Now the Sherardian 
herbarium is the collection of dried plants made by Dr. 
Sherard, who founded the botanical professorship at Oxford, 
bequeathing by his will £"3,000 for that purpose. 

Sherard was born in 1659 ^^^ died in 1728, so that this 
specimen frond of kalothrix is probably at least 200 years 
old. 


139 

I recently made a pilgrimage to Oxford for the purpose 
of seeing this specimen and of gleaning any facts which 
could be found to throw light upon the history of kalothrix. 
Through the kindness of my friend, Mr. G. C. Druce, M.A., 
keeper of the herbarium, I was enabled to see the ferns in 
the herbarium and to examine the INIourne Mountains frond 
which is said to be " almost identical with kalothrix." 
The first point to be cleared up was whether this old frond 
was really kalothrix or only something more or less 
resembling it. At first sight it appears different from a 
cultivated plant of kalothrix, being proportionately narrower 
in outline and a little less dissected. The texture and 
marginal cutting are, however, exactly those of kalothrix 
and, upon reflection, it is just what one would expect a 
wild collected specimen of that form to be, and, indeed, 
it strongly resembles what I remember the first plants of 
kalothrix, sent out by Mr. Sim about 1875, ^^ have been : 
i.e. it is smaller and less developed than modern cultivated 
specimens. The frond is gummed down on paper so that 
I was unable to determine whether any traces of fructifi- 
cation remained upon it. It must be remembered, however, 
that when fruit is found upon kalothrix it is generally in 
the form of irregularly scattered, often isolated and naked, 
sporangia, which upon ripening rapidly disappear, leaving 
little or no trace behind. Upon the sheet appears a note 
by John Ray : — " A most beautiful and distinct form which 
ought to have a separate name." (This is not signed by 
Ray but a sub-note states that it is Ray's handwriting). 
Now since Ray died in 1704 or 1705 it is clear that this 
frond must be more than 200 years old. Before leaving 
the herbarium it was noted that it contains many other 
abnormal forms besides kalothrix. Polypodium v. Cam- 
bricum and Asplenium trichomanes incisum were noticed, 
as also numerous forms of Scolopendrium vulgare including 
crispum, multifidum, cristatum, ramo-cristatum, digitatum, 
polyschides of Moore (named angustatum, by the w^ay, a 
much better name than polyschides for this plant), margin- 


140 

atum and sagittatum. It is clear therefore that the study 
of varieties is not so exclusively modern as some of us 
have been apt to suppose. 

Leaving the herbarium the next step was to see if possible 
the plumosum from which Howlett raised his kalothrix. 
Unfortunately no record could be found of this nor could 
any information be had about Mr. Howlett himself. 
There was, however, only one form of plumosum in the 
gardens (labelled simply A. f.f. plumosum). This was 
not the Horsfall plumosum, but was unmistakably the 
plumosum which comes from the spores of kalothrix and 
from which kalothrix can in turn be raised. It has some 
resemblance to the Horsfall form, but is a dwarfer plant, 
thinner in texture, less acute in the ultimate segments, and 
when exposed to the sun, as it was here, it burns to a 
peaty brown which is very characteristic and unmistak- 
able. If this be, as seems probable, Ihe plumosum from 
which Howlett raised his kalothrix it is at least equally 
probable that it was itself the offspring, immediate or 
remote, of another kalothrix. And if so of what kalothrix ? 
Sherard's plant is the only one known to have existed 
previously. Everything, in fact, points to the Mourne 
Mountains plant as the ancestor of the modern kalothrix. 
It is clear, from the number of varieties in the herbarium, 
that Sherard was a student and admirer of these things. 
It is therefore extremely unlikely that, upon finding so 
good a thing as kalothrix, he would leave it behind in the 
Mourne Alountains and content himself with a dried frond. 
If he were the man I take him to have been he would 
transfer the whole plant alive to his vasculum and after- 
wards cultivate it carefully in his garden. 

The comment of Ray, quoted above, is indirect evidence 
that kalothrix persisted as a living plant, for what would 
be the use of giving a new name to a fern of which only 
a dried frond was known to exist ? Suppose now the fern 
to be growing in some snug sheltered place in Sherard's 
garden. We have seen that he left money to the University 


HI 

of Oxford for the foundation of a botanical professorship, 
and that he also bequeathed his herbarium to the same 
seat of learning. What more natural than that his plants 
should also find their way, at or before his death, to the 
University Garden ? Once there kalothrix may have 
scattered spores which gave rise to a plumosum and this 
would be much more likely to survive than would kalothrix 
itself. Or kalothrix may even have reverted wholly to 
the plumose form since it frequently does so partially even 
in modern times. This would agree with and explain the 
vague tradition of an Irish plumosum.. 

There are, of course, many missing links in the chain of 
evidence I have adduced and absolute proof of the descent 
of kalothrix from Sherard's plant is wanting, but the 
pedigree is probably as good as many in the Herald's 
College, and in any case this hypothetical descent must be 
considered to be more probable than the alternative theory 
that a fairly large batch of kalothrix sprang suddenly from 
a particular plant of the Horsfall or some other plumosum, 
no other individual of which has ever been known to 
produce it at all. 

It is an interesting consideration that "perhaps the 
most delicately beautiful of all ferns," is also one of the 
oldest varieties whose origin can be traced, and it is an 
honour to the Emerald Isle to have given it birth as is to 
the Oxford Botanic Garden to have preserved it even in a 
disguised form during a century and a half of obscurity. 
Last, but not least, let us give honour to Sherard who 
discovered it. He ought to be the patron saint of fern- 
hunters. 


NEW FERNS. 


With the exception of the possibilities referred to in the 
preceding article, " A Successful Sowing," there is little to 
record since last issue. We have, however, received from 
Mr. J. Francis, one of our members, several fronds of a 


142 

peculiarly pretty crisped Oak Fern which had appeared in 
one of his sowings of that species. The fronds sent appear 
to be thoroughbred, but we have some doubts as to their true 
varietal character, since though no obvious disease or dis- 
coloration appears which may cause the curling by a check 
to normal development, there is associated with it a slight 
discoloration of the midribs. The fronds are freely fertile, 
and, with Mr. Francis's permission, a sowing has been 
made to test its constancy. If it stands the test, a possi- 
bility by no means precluded by the doubt felt, we should 
at last have a very pretty variant of this hitherto constant 
species. Some years back we recollect seeing some 
similar fronds of P. cakaveum found in the Lake District, 
and as nothing more has been heard of this, we fear that 
that also might have been due to disease of a similar nature 
to that suspected in this case. 

From an outside source, Mr. W. A. Barber of Back- 
barrow, some very fine fronds of scolopendrium were sent 
for naming, accompanied by a frond of a Blechnum, which 
appears to be an exact replica of our own B. s. concinmim, 
as it is very narrow and even, the lobes being like small 
scallop shells. This was found wild close to Backbarrow, 
near Windermere, by Mr. W. Lancaster in July last, and 
may therefore be legitimately reckoned as one of the best 
finds of the season. 

From Mr. F. N. Adkin we have received fronds of some 
interesting seedling P. aculeatums^ in which the fronds are 
narrow and crested, the peculiarity in each being that the 
pinnae are ramose and almost fan-shaped, an indication we 
think of cruciate blood, though they cannot be termed 
cruciate. This feature is very thorough in each case. 
We have suggested the name of P. aculeatum vamo-pinnatum 
angustatum for the strain. 

Mr. H. Stansfield, of Sale, reports the raising of a form 
of A. f.f. excuvvens with inch long points, which he has 
named " spinosum." 

A cruciate P. aculeatum. So far no cruciate form of P. 


143 

aculeaUim has been found wild, but Mr. E. J. Lowe suc- 
ceeded in infusing this character (in which the pinnae or 
side divisions are in duplicate and set on at such angles as to 
form crosses with the opposite pairs, whence the name) 
into this species by a cross with a cruciate form of 
P. angiilave known as Wakeleyanum, by which cross he 
was the first to practically demonstrate the possibility of 
hybridizing Ferns. The aculeatum parent, however, was 
not the normal form but a congested variety known as 
*' denstim,'' and the result in all the offspring has been 
somewhat congested or sub-imbricate types of an easily 
recognised character. We have, however, recently received 
from our member Mrs. Thatcher, a frond of P. aculeatum 
in her possession, which, while shewing the true normal 
aculeatum character throughout is markedly cruciate plus 
a well developed terminal crest. This plant she obtained- 
as a seedling some twenty years ago from Dr. Fox, who 
was associated with Col. A. M. Jones, in the development 
of the wonderful Jones and Fox divisilobe plumosums of 
angulare, and Dr. Stansfield is of opinion that it is there- 
fore one of the original hybrid offspring in question which 
has thrown off the densum character and while retaining 
the lucent leathery foliage and habit of aculeatum proper, 
owes its cruciate and crested character to Wakeleyanum 
of the other species. Despite the age of the plant, it has 
never produced an offset and is still a single crown. Spore 
sowings so far have failed, but as it is fairly fertile, another 
attempt is now being made, and if successful the progeny 
may throw some light on its genesis. In any case it is an 
extremely interesting plant. 

From Mr. J. W. Tucker we have received fronds of a 
very curious Scolopendrium, of which the fronds for two- 
thirds of the normal length are normal but extra broad, 
they then, however, suddenly contract to form a narrow 
neck, whence springs a fanshaped thoroughly ramb- 
marginate crest of many narrow segments. We have 
named it S. v. ramo-cvistatum Tucker il. 


144 

LIST OF NEW MEMBERS. 

Mr. W. L. Salusbury-White, Llanwern Lodge, Leicester. 
„ Geo. S. Railton, Senior Council School, Tewkesbury. 
,, Robt. M. Mulligan, Holyrood, Co. Devon. 
,, E. J. Winslow, Lasell Seminary, Auburndale, Mass., U.S.A. 
,, J. W. Tucker, Ferncroft, Woodah Road, St. Thomas, Exeter. 
,, G. C. Lawson, Mayfield House, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. 
,, W. T. Morrison, 23, Gowrie Street, Bridgend, Perth. 


"British Ferns and Their Varieties," by Charles T. 
Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S., with forty magnificent coloured 
plates, 319 wood cuts and other illustrations, and 96 
monochrome reprints of a selection of the choicest varieties 
nature printed by the late Col. A. M. Jones of Clifton 
with his original notes in extenso. In cloth 7s. 6d. net ; in 
half morocco, gilt, los. 6d. net. 

It will interest the members to know that by the 
enterprise of Messrs. George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., the 
author has been enabled to realize one of the pet ambitions 
of his life, viz., the production, on practically untrammelled 
lines, of a thoroughly up-to-date and well illustrated record 
of our native ferns in their specific and varietal forms, 
together with such information as to their history, culture 
and biological peculiarities as will render the work a 
thorough compendium of knowledge for the amateur's 
reference plus indications of sources of knowledge 
valuable to those who take an interest on the scientific 
side. The addition of an appendix consisting of ninety-six 
of the choicest of the late Col. Jones' nature prints, 
accompanied by his contemporary notes, which the author 
has been kindly permitted by Miss Jones to use as a supple- 
ment, renders this book an absolutely unique one, apart 
from its comprehensive and practical character in other 
directions. Certainly no British Fern lover or Botanical 
Library should be without it as the standard work on the 
subject, and it would be an advantage to the author (the 
Editor of the Gazette and secretary of the British 
Pteridological Society) if orders for it were sent to him 
personally to his address as given elsewhere. 


THE BOOK OF BRITISH FERNS. 

This book constitutes an invaluable guide to the selection 
of the best forms for high-class collections. It was compiled 
by the Editor, with the assistance of a Committee of the 
British Pteridological Society, all experts, and contains 
descriptions of about 700 of the choicest forms, illustrated 
profusely, and accompanied by chapters on Fern Culture, 
Fern Hunting, and indeed all matters of interest in connec- 
tion with the cult. It can be obtained from the Hon. Secre- 
tary and Editor, Mr. Chas. T. Druery, 11, Shaa Road, Acton, 
London, for 3s. gd., post free, and may be regarded as 
absolutely indispensable to the real lover and grower of 
British Ferns and their varieties. 

N.B. — As the covers of the few remaining copies 
in stock have become discoloured by damp, these 
will be supplied for 2s. gd., post free, instead of 
3s. gd., the published price. Early application is 
advisable. 


AMERICAN FERNS. 

There are more than 300 Species of P>rnworts 
in the United States and Canada, and an immense 
number of varieties. A majority of British ferns 
are among the number. Read what the Americans 
have found out about them in 

tTbe Jfern Bulletin, 

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 

Many new Species and Forms have been 
described and illustrated in its pages. 

Annual Subscription, 35. post free, 

A Set of the 13 Volumes still in print will 
be sent for 86 shillings, post free. 

Sample Copy fcjr a Penny Stamp, 
Six Different Numbers for One Shillins;. 

Address— Wll LARD N. CLUTE 8c Co., Joliet, III., U.S.A. 


^= FERNS. ^= 

* * * 

R B« MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection* 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sizes, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

* * * 

stove, 6rcenl)ou$c. and otbcr Plants 
. . .are also laraelP arown. . . . 

¥ * * 

C&talogaes of Ferns and other Planti can be had post free 
upon application to— 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDMONTON. 


VOL. 1. No. 7. 


. . . Zbc . . . 

JBritieb jfem 
©asette. 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


rB>arcb, 1911. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Hon. Secretary, C. T. Druery, ii, Shaa Rd., Acton, London, W.) 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


POLYPODIUM VULGARE, AND VARIETIES. 


THE 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE, 


Vol. I. 


MARCH, 1911. 


No. 7. 


CONTENTS. 

Editorial Notes 

Our Frontispiece (Polypodium vulgare) 

Spring Treatment of Hardy Ferns 

" My Fernery," by Mr. C. B. Green {continued) 

Mysterious Ferns, by Charles T. Druery . . 

An Aposporous Polystichum, by Dr. F. W. Stansfield 

Variegated Hartstongues, by J. W. Tucker 

Some Adventures of a Novice, by F. W. Thorrington 

Our Wonderful Native Ferns, by Charles T. Druery 

List of New Members .. .. .. .. .. Inside 

New Ferns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ,, 


page. 

145 
146 

147 
147 
154 
158 
160 
161 
166 
Cover 


EDITORIAL NOTES. 

Despite the fact that we have been passing through the 
dull season for Fern culture, when little can be done to 
Ferns save the all-essential watering necessary under glass, 
but which is too often neglected, to their subsequent 
impoverishment or even death, the Editor has been 
favoured with some good contributions from members 
which will, doubtless, be interesting to their fellow Fern 
lovers, since there is always something to be learnt from 
the particular experiences of intelligent observers when 
carefully recorded. Mr. C. B. Green's interesting notes 
are concluded, and in this connection we may add that it 
is only necessary to see his plants to recognize his ability 
to give good advice as a very successful grower. With 
regard to a suggested Exchange Column, we would remind 
the members that it only rests with them to send us a note 
of their good material available for exchange, and their 
requirements, which will be published in the following 
issue for the benefit of their fellow Fern lovers. 


146 

As will be seen, new members are constantly coming in, 
but we must, nevertheless, beg those who have already 
joined to help us by inducing their Fern-loving friends to 
join, and thus, by swelling the list of subscribers, enable 
the Editor to increase the scope of the "Gazette" pic- 
torially and otherwise. Specimen copies will be gladly 
sent to possible subscribers, and the annual fee (5s.) for 
membership and four quarterly issues of the " Gazette" is 
certainly moderate enough to suit all pockets. All MSS., 
etc., concerning the " Gazette " should be addressed to the 
Editor, II, Shaa Road, Acton, London, W. 

Editor. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

POLYPODIUM VULGARE. 

Our frontispiece in this issue gives a very vivid idea of 
the many beautiful and varied forms into which our common 
Polypody (Polypodium vulgave) has proved itself capable of 
sporting. The normal form is shown as No. i for com- 
parison. All the specimens have been drawn either direct 
from actual fronds or from Colonel Jones' nature prints, 
and represent the following varieties : — 
Fig. I. Polypodium vulgare normal. 

2. „ ,, bifido-cristatum. 

3. ,, ,, ramosum Hillman. 

4. ,, ,, cristatum Scarborough. 

5. ,, ,, cristatum (old form). 

6. „ ,, grandiceps Parker (multi- 

fido-cristatum). 

7* >» »> J) x^ ox. 

8. ,, ,, pulcherrimum. 

9. u ,, cambricum. [mum). 

10. ,, ,, cornubiense (elegantissi- 

11. n >> parvissimum. [biense. 

12. „ ,, bifido-cristatum X cornu- 

13. II ,, omnilacerum (in proper 

form). 


147 

On page 34, No. 2 of the " Gazette," these and other 
varieties are described and cultural notes given for 
guidance. C. T. D. 


SPRING TREATMENT OF HARDY FERNS. 

In this connection we would refer our readers to the 
article so headed which appeared in the March issue of 19 10 
(No. 3), since we have so much matter in hand for this issue 
as to be unable to find space for what would necessarily be 
a mere repetition or paraphrase. To members who have 
subsequently joined and not acquired the back numbers, 
we will willingly send a copy of that issue on receipt of a 
postcard. C. T. D. 


(( 


MY FERNERY" {continued). 

By Mr. C. B. Green, 

Continuing the Lady Ferns [Athyvinm Filix-fcemina), 
there is also a pevcvistate seedling with gvandlceps 
cresting, which I regard with some favour. Unfortunately 
little is seen in the illustration* of these good things, while 
many others are quite outside the range of the lens. A 
neat and pretty pevcvistatiim found by Mr. Phillips ought 
to be mentioned. 

Kalothvix and K. foliosum were acquired from another 
member of the B.P.S. — Mr. Wright — which fact serves 
to illustrate the good fellowship existing between those 
of the cult. 

VictovicBS, of course, in various forms find a place here, 
and are well worthy of the room they occupy. The writer 
having treated of the Shield and Lady Ferns more or 
less in extenso, one's thoughts may now be diverted to the 
Male Ferns. As to the terms "male" and "female," 
or rather " lady," in this connection the novice is some- 

-■' See Frontispiece last issue. 


148 

what prone to think that there is some sexual difference 
between them. Experts know better, these terms being 
merely descriptive of robustness in the one case, and 
fragility in the other. The Lady Ferns, therefore, by 
reason of their fragility, require shade and moisture, and 
protection too in towns, whereas the Male Ferns — Lastreas 
— on the other hand, will stand much more exposure and 
even droughty conditions, therefore the Male Ferns are 
poorly represented in my Fernery. 

The Filix mas. section consists only of linearis, /lucttwsa, 
and /. cvistata ; but the psendo mas. group makes a better 
show. L.p. mas. cvistata of course is there — it is in every 
fernery worth the name, for no fernist could be without the 
" King " of the group, with its symmetrical fronds, its 
beautiful tassels, and its tree-like habit. 

Cvistata angtistata, as its name implies, has narrow fronds, 
is of smaller proportions, but otherwise resembles its parent 
pretty closely. C. fimhviata is dwarfer still, plumose in 
character and altogether more refined in appearance. 
Polydactyla Wills is another strong-growing fern one could 
scarcely ignore *, it occupies a corner of the fernery, much 
to that corner's advantage — I had almost said advertise- 
ment — for it has eight sturdy fronds which average 
over 4 ft. 6 in. long. These are broad in proportion, 
splendidly " fingered," and at this season seem to produce 
spores so prodigally that I really believe there is enough 
to fill a lilliputian wheelbarrow ! It is quite a regal fern 
compared with Dadd's variety, which, by-the-bye, I think 
ought to be placed in the Filix mas. section, for its texture 
is much thinner and its fronds only partially evergreen. 

Both these plants were tiny specimens in. 1897, and were 
transferred from Mr. Druery's fernery to mine. When 
I pause to reflect on these things I am conscious, not only 
of the flight of time, but of indebtedness to ferny friends. 

Cvispa and C. cvistata ought to be mentioned as pot 
plants, they are almost too insignificant for the border, for 
there surely their dwarf and compressed crispy forms would 


149 

be entirely overlooked. These little gems, however, are 
fitting companions, pteridologically as well as sentimen- 
tally, for their pretty little "sisters" Athyvium f. f. 
congestion minus and C. ni. cvistatiun. 

Of the Broad Buckler Ferns (Lastrea dilatata) I can 
only mention gvandiccps, lepidota, and L. cvistata, and say 
that they are all worth growing. L. oemida, from Cornwall, 
and L. (e. cvistata, from Devon, are rather " miffy " with me, 
while L. uiontana and its varieties are conspicuous by their 
absence. 

In the opposite corner to Wills' polydactylous Alale 
Fern I made a station for Osmitnda vegalis of peat and 
loam in about equal proportions, and to keep this 
vigorous-growing fern from trespassing on its neighbours, 
I thrust some stout slates two feet down into the border. 
Being also just behind the door, this, and its variety 
cvistata, are always under observation, and therefore do 
not get neglected in the matter of that all-important fluid, 
without which no Osmunda could long survive. That the 
conditions conform to its natural requirements is evidenced 
by its vigour, for the fronds are not only numerous, but 
attain the height of seven feet, and many of them are now 
(October) still surmounted with their brown flower-like 
scapes. I got this from Studland Bay, in Dorset, 1895, 
where I have recently been, and am glad to report its 
continued existence in that district. Its beautiful variety 
cvistata, which occupies a front place, is comparatively 
dwarf in habit, and affords a striking contrast to its 
towering parent, a contrast which the veriest tyro in 
fern matters can understand and appreciate. Still looking 
up, one's eye is sure to be attracted to the Polypodies, 
or, as they call them in Cornwall, " Ladder Ferns." 
These seem particularly suited to the hanging basket, 
and at least four out of six of these wire receptacles I 
employ for Polypodies. The hanging basket, however, is 
peculiarly liable to suffer from drought, as when watered 
ninety-nine per cent, is apt to run through. This can be 

B 


I50 

obviated by soaking basket and plants in a bath of water, 
say, once a week. A pulley is in requisition for this 
purpose — thus the required immersion can be nicely 
regulated. I may here point out that a well-furnished 
basket of ferns is an artistic addition to any fernery. 
Unfortunately the illustration (Frontispiece, December 
"British Fern Gazette") only shows the bases of three 
such adornments. As to the contents, they comprise 
most of the elite, and a fair form or two may be considered. 
Polypodmm viilgave camhvicum is a good, if not rare thing, 
and a basket or a pan full of its creeping rhizomes, with 
their accompanying *' plumes," forms an ornamental 
foliage plant of no common kind. Another variety, but 
of Cornish origin, viz. cornuhiense, or elegantissinmm, is 
worthy of a place, and although it is somewhat erratic 
in frond division, it is an interesting example of the 
mutability of species. 

Prestonii is an improved and denser form of camhricum, 
and gvandiceps (Parker) is a curious conglomeration of 
crispy crests. There are several bifid varieties, and one 
acntum form, which I keep as a souvenir from the Great 
Orme's Head, 1894, ^^"^ Y^^ another, which Dr. Stansfield 
has described as "curious and interesting," a form I found 
near Dolgelly in 1901. This form, which is somewhat 
inconstant, has short rounded lobes, after the fashion of a 
Cetevach, and when in character is an improvement on 
Mr. Phillips' votundatuni. Then we have two other species 
of this genus — Polypodinm Phegopteris (Beech Fern) and 
P. Dvyopteris (Oak Fern). Notwithstanding their fanciful 
names, botanic and vulgar — the one, in fact, is a 
translation of the other — they are useful little ferns, 
and revel in shade and moisture. A slight variety of 
the former, with tiny furcate tips, was, I think, found by 
Mr. Whitwell. Anyhow it has found a houie on my 
rockery, and always comes true in the matter of these 
small dilations. Otherwise it is of no value as a variety, 
but in association with the Oak Fern — in colour the 


^5^ 

"sweetest" of all green things — it affords a pleasing 
contrast. The latter is not only colour-perfect, but 
exquisite in form also. 

We now come to the Hart's-tongue, undoubtedly the 
most variable of all Ferns, but the configuration of many 
of our varieties is no more like the tongue of a hart, or any 
other animal, than a cow is like a cucumber ! And this 
has all been brought about by variation. What a contrast, 
then, between, Say, Kelway's tiny densum and the magnificent 
frills of Wills' Crispmn graude ! And what a host of inter- 
mediates ! 

Starting at the very bottom in point of size, this little 
densiun is a mass of mossy growths, each tiny division 
dividing again and again until finality is reached, and a 
plant is produced which rather resembles a moss than a 
Fern. This little gem requires rather close treatment, other- 
wise it would not develop those wonderful marginal bulbs 
by which it can be easily propagated. Another remarkable 
variety is Barnes' diinorphum^ which bears two kinds of 
fronds, and thus varies from nearly normal to linear fronds, 
each with flat spreading handsome crests. I confess I was 
sceptical when I first saw this Fern in Mr. Druery's col- 
lection, but now I have " nae doots " about it, as I have 
experimented with it and proved its dimorphic character. 
Cvistatuui proper, in many forms, is a good variety, while 
c. Bavvaud carries the cresting much further, and C vivi- 
pavuiii (O'Kelly) is proliferous as well. Then we have in the 
sagittate forms some very good things in conjunction with 
other characters, and culminating, perhaps, in gvandiceps. 
The capitate iorms — oi which graiidiceps is one — are all worth 
growing, and in this connection I must mention one I am 
pleased to call capitatum Green, which is generally regarded 
with some favour. There are many others — lacevatuiHy 
spivale, miivicatnm, ramosuni, ramosissimum Green — of course 
every specialist has his fancies — pevafevens, tvi-pevaf evens, 
and so on almost ad infinitwn. But I think it will be con- 
ceded that the most lovely departure from the normal form 


152 

is the cvispum section. And yet there is a good deal of 
*' normality " — at least in outline — about them. The tongue- 
shape is more or less retained, but the flutings, frills, or 
convolutions of their margins render them very distinct. 

Referring once more to the illustration of " My Fernery," 
it will not be difficult to pick out one of the best of this 
section — cvispum gvande Wills, already touched upon. Here 
we have form, size, symmetry, and beauty, let alone 
distinctness. Of other cvispnms, too, there are many. Cvispum 
Grey is the type ; and thence upward to Robinson, Stabler, 
Stansfield, Drummondae, etc., etc. These again take on 
crests, imbrications, fimbriations and even aposporous 
growths, so there is no end to choose from and cultivate. 
They are especially adapted for frame culture or small 
houses, and therefore there is no reason why we should not 
become a Bolton, a Cropper, or a Stansfield. On the 
shelves are a few Spleenworts, the best of which is Asplenium 
Trichomanes vav. incisum, a lovely plumose form of the species, 
with fronds deeply cut and quite barren. This plant has 
occupied the same 4^-inch pot for several years, the com- 
post being loam, peat and old mortar. That it is doing 
satisfactorily is, I think, evidenced by the number and 
condition of the fronds — between fifty and sixty. These 
particulars are not given in any ostentatious spirit in this 
case — or in the others quoted — but merely as a measure of 
the plant's capacity under certain conditions. As a matter 
of fact, in some other cases I have to admit failure, for 
the Spleenworts are not to be lightly undertaken in the 
matter of culture. Asp. t. cvistatum and cvenatwn are not far 
removed from the normal form. Their names imply their 
characteristics. 

In igo2, I found both at Lynton, and photographed the 
latter in situ. This was not a particularly easy task, as a 
good deal of climbing had to be compassed, and some nasty 
projections negotiated. However, it is a good thing it was 
accomplished, as that is the only record I now possess. 
Therefore, in conjunction with the above passage, this is a 


15 


-I 


serious set-off against a chronicle of success. Doubtless my 
little plants pined for their native air, at any rate they 
refused to respond to my blandishments. A very good 
reproduction of this little fern may be found on page 89 of 
"The Book of British Ferns." 

Avery closely allied Fern — the Rusty-back Fern, or scaly 
Spleenwort — (Asplenium Cetevach or C.officinavum) does very 
well next door, so to speak, to the beautiful incisum. 

I have two specimens in similar sized pots, one from 
Monmouthshire and one from Middlesex, and but for the 
labels I could not distinguish between them. That this 
fern has a Middlesex habitat is, I hope and believe, known 
to very few. These plants are potted in similar compost 
to the phunose spleenwovt, with a liberal addition of limestone 
chips. 

Of all the Ferns T am acquainted with, my fancy goes to 
the true British Maidenhair [Adiantum CapiUus-venevis) and 
its varieties. I am particularly partial to one known as 
imhvicatiim, a name sufficiently indicative of its overlapping 
pinnae, and more or less plumose character. 

It appeals to me further, because I have two or three 
interesting plants which were raised from spores ten years 
ago. 

Oh ! how the time flies ! The fact that this Fern some- 
times produces sovi was emphasized in i8gg, when a 
correspondence was being conducted in Tlie Gavdenevs' 
Chronicle, concerning its non-fertility. Mr. Druery main- 
tained the contrary — and Mr. Druery was right. The 
results on my rockery are proofs positive of its fertile 
character, and although the summer growths are some- 
times marred by winter's chills it still persists. As a 
matter of fact, all the Maidenhairs require a warmer 
temperature than a cold house affords. 

This Fern is particularly responsive to a little heat — 
hence, I have come across it once or twice in good con- 
dition in warm greenhouses. 

I have also in association with this a slight variety from 


154 

the "blue lias limestone cliffs" of Southerndown, in 
Glamorganshire, kindly sent me by Mr. Gething, of 
Abergavenny, in igo2, with a statement that this habitat 
has been his own for sixty years. But this Fern does not 
grow so vigorously as my imhvicatiim. Since then I have 
visited St. Ives, in Cornwall, with the result that my 
rockery is further adorned with the species from the sea- 
cliffs in that neighbourhood. 

Again, I possess on the rockery a sturdy self-sown form of 
this beautiful Fern, which I think is rather remarkable, the 
conditions being understood. 

The Killarney Fern (Tvichomanes vadicans) and the two 
Filmy Ferns {HymenophyUum tunhvidgense and H. nnilaievale)^ 
all from Scotland, occupy a case to themselves, and can 
only be mentioned here to complete the series. 

I had intended to touch upon cultural matters — ventila- 
tion, watering, and manipulation generally — but, no; I 
have said enough ; and will conclude with a hope that if 
self has been rather prominent in this article, it will be 
pardoned as inevitable in a description of " Isly Fernery." 


MYSTERIOUS FERNS. 

Probably there is no thorough-going Fern cultivator of 
long standing, but has had curious experiences amongst his 
sowings of fern spores, quite apart from those "strays" 
which are almost inevitable when spores are collected 
late in the season, at a time when other spores have 
been shed broadcast and become as a consequence 
mixed with those which he takes direct from the 
frond. In our own experience several occurrences 
have been so inexplicable, so impossible to attribute to 
strays of this kind, as to merit record. Of these the most 
marked instance occurred comparatively recently. In a 
hedge near Seaton Junction, Devon, we found in 1908 a 
very remarkable Polysticlnim annulare, bearing only two large 
fronds, each of which was of abnormally tough texture 
and with a shining surface, while the fronds were thric 


155 

divided instead of being merely bipinnate. All the pinnae halt- 
way up the frond were truncate, ending squarely, with the 
midrib projecting as a small translucent thorn, and the 
top of the one complete frond (that of the other was broken 
of!) was truncate also with a similar projection. On 
digging this plant up, we found to our intense surprise 
that the remains of five or six fronds of the previous 
season were still attached, and sufficiently intact to show 
that they were absolutely of the common normal type 
without a trace of the three abnormal characters, lucent 
surface, tripinnation, and truncation, visible. The fronds 
bore spores profusely, and despite the obvious inconstancy 
we determined to sow some, in the hope that at any rate 
a few plants of the new and very uncommon form would 
result. We therefore severed a pinna (a truncate one for 
preference), laid it on a glass slip, and shortly after, 
examining it with the microscope, discovered a good batch 
of shed spores. These we sowed in the usual way, first 
sterilizing the soil and also, as is our custom, sowed them 
in one of our dwelling rooms and then covered them close 
with glass. Subsequently a minute patch of an incised 
Asp. trichomanes from Mr. Moly's collection, was sown with 
them. 

The first results of the sowing, when the plants declared 
themselves, was a dense forest of Lastvea filix mas, many 
of which showed signs of cresting, and none of which 
struck us as normal. These grew so robustly as to give 
no chance to the Polystichum we hoped for, and hence as 
they presented no promising features, they were all cut out 
with a pair of sharp scissors. It was then seen that beneath 
them were a few plants of Asp. t. of the incised type of 
Mr. Moley's plants, and only here and there a Polystichum 
seedling, while one or two crested Lady Ferns and as many 
cvispate lastveas had obviously, despite our precautions, 
resulted from strays. These Polystichums, only some half- 
dozen in all, instead of developing the truncate and compo- 
site character of the presumed parental frond, all produced 


■56 

branched and crested ones, such as no fern in our collection 
resembled, and of so marked a character that it is almost 
impossible to impute them to the Seaton Junction find, 
which, if innocent of these, practically produced no progeny 
at all. Now, two peculiar points about this case are (i) 
that the Polystichums rarely, we might almost say never, 
give rise to stray plants among our sowings ; and (2) that 
the few which did appear behaved alike, with one excep- 
tion, apparently normal. The possibility has been advanced 
that they arose from stray Polystichiim spores deposited at 
Mr. Moly's on the frond of Asp. tvichonianes in question, but 
so small a portion of that frond was used that such an 
explanation is hardly feasible, and moreover Mr. Cranfield, 
who sowed from it, also obtained no such results. The 
origin, therefore, of these ramo-cvistate Polystichums is an 
entire mystery, as was also that of the first batch of Lastreas, 
as being more or less abnormal, they can hardly be imputed 
to stray spores from adjacent plants in the hedgerow 
concerned. 

We have sown spores now some hundreds of times, but 
never had such a puzzling multifold result before. Un- 
expected things, however, have occurred on several other 
occasions. In 1900 we received a plant of P. vnlgave 
servatum from Kew, with deep saw-toothed pinnae, one of 
which we noticed was irregularly and curiously branched. 
As this bore spores we sowed it, without result. In 1905, 
however, we noticed a small seedling P. vulqave in a pot of 
other spores sown the year previous, and on its primary 
fronds we discovered prothalli, i.e. apospory, for the first 
time in that species. We consequently carefully isolated it, 
brought it on, and lo ! it proved to be an exact replica of 
the Kew servatum sown so many years previously in another 
pot entirely. 

Another case. In i838 we sowed together for a cross 
A, f.i. Kalothvix and A. f.f. Cousensii [Percvistatum), with the 
result that we obtained the latter form with much elongated 
pinnules, which we attributed to Kalothrix influence, but 


157 

there were no signs of a crested Kalothrix proper. About 
fifteen years afterwards we made a sowing oi A. f. f. Plumo- 
sjiin superhim, which practically failed, producing only a few 
strays of no value. These remained in the thimble pot in 
which the spores were sown, until one day we were about 
to throw the contents away, when on the very edge of the 
pot a curious looking patch of apparent moss was noted, 
and examining this with a lens, we found it consisted of a 
bunch of tiny ferns delicately cut and shining like Kalotlirix. 
Removing it and bringing it on it revealed itself as no less 
than seven plants of a true Kalothrix cristatum, all springing 
from one pyothallns, and six of these, after a surgical opera- 
tion, survived. It will be noted that the cross sowing was 
made about fifteen years previously, the results being now 
large established plants, and that this " sport " (? cross) 
arose in a sowing of a different type entirely, and was 
raised in a Wardian case after the usual precautions had 
been taken to ensure a pure sowing, though, as we have 
seen, these were vain. One assumption is feasible here, 
and that is that one plant of the originally attempted cross, 
which we have described, was really a success as regards 
the blending of bloods, and that one of its spores yielded 
as a stray this obvious blend on the desired lines, to use 
a colloquialism, a most decided " fluke," as an intentional 
sowing from the possible parent only yielded the parental 
form. Mr. Whitwell's batch of dwarf-crested L.propinqua 
may be quoted among similar mysteries, since a number of 
these, all alike, turned up in a sowing of Blechniim spicant, 
and there is no form oiL. pvopinqtia to which their parentage 
can reasonably be imputed. 

Among apparent mysteries which, however, found a 
solution, may be mentioned the case of Lastvea cemula 
cristata, found many years ago as a wild plant in Devon by 
Mr. Gill. The original plant was lost, but, happily, a 
single seedling came up in the pot. Colonel A. M. Jones 
acquired a fertile frond of this, part of which he sent to 
us. Both of us sowed at once. Colonel Jones obtained 


158 

an abundant crop of exotic Ptevis sevvidaia and others, and 
we obtained a little forest of Lady Ferns. These we 
eliminated as they declared themselves by means of a 
fine-pointed pair of scissors. A second crop followed, and 
were treated the same. By this time, however, it was 
evident that the Lady Ferns were exhausted, for the pan 
then yielded about 300 true seedlings of L. amula cvistata, 
most of which went to Colonel Jones, as, assuming his 
sowing to be a failure, the Ptevis family was not removed, 
and the L. oemida were consequently crowded out. Now, 
the fertile frond used was taken from a fernery full of 
British Ferns, and hence, undoubtedly, was laden also with 
stray spores, which produced the two crops of Lady Ferns, 
owing to their more rapid germination and development, 
before the oeimdas had a chance of asserting themselves. 
Colonel Jones placed his sowing in a warm greenhouse, 
and here, it is obvious, the adjacent Ptevis plants profited 
by the opportunity, and, owing to the warmth, gained the 
upper hand over both the Britishers. This explanation 
involves a warning against sowing spores together of 
species of different speeds of development and robuster 
growth, since the weaker is bound thereby to go to the 
wall when the earlier prothalli monopolize the space and 
starve out the later ones, a point to remember in sowing, 
as some fern spores yield prothalli very rapidly and others 
very slowly, C. T. D. 


AN APOSPOROUS POLYSTICHUM. 

I herewith send you photographs (back and front view) 
of a promising seedling, P. angulave, raised by my brother, 
Mr. H. Stansfield, of Sale, and kindly sent by him to me. 
It is of pulchevvimuni type, and bears upon the tips of the 
ultimate segments small prothalli, which are visible in the 
photograph. Its parentage is obscure, as it appeared 
singly in a batch of mixed seedlings. A seedling of 


159 

similar character was raised at the same place some years 
ago, but it eventually dropped the pulclievvinmm character, 
as so many wild finds have done before it, and reverted to 
the normal type, or nearly so. The " new baby " at present 


has some resemblance to a young plant of the splendid, but 
now, I fear, lost, pulchevvimnm of Wills. I am looking 
forward to the new fronds with mingled feelings of hope 
and anxiety. F. W. Stansfield. 


i6o 

VARIEGATED HARTSTONGUES. 

Your article in the recent number of the " British Fern 
Gazette " prompts me to add my experience on this subject. 
Five or six years ago I secured a division of a variegated 
cvispum — a wild find, originally, in North Devon — that had 
to my knowledge been constant for some three or four 
years. The cultural conditions and habitat of the fern in 
question previous to my securing a division were all that 
could be desired — the soil and environment ideal for fern 
life. 

At the present time the plant in question is in a border 
under a north wall, one of many other well-grown 
Scolopendviums characteristic of the best in that section. 
Previous to this year the fronds have all been of the type 
of the narrow one accompanying this note, in some seasons 
not quite so restricted in growth, perhaps, but always of 
the same pale yellow, or almost white, colour. This year, 
however, a few only of the fronds have shown that marked 
characteristic, whilst others have assumed the almost 
normal growth of an ordinary frilled Hartstongue, as per 
frond submitted. Close examination, however, reveals 
distinct traces of variegation permeating the green. The 
more vigorous growth and almost normal green of the 
later fronds can be accounted for, I think , by the fact that 
for the past two months the ferns at the extreme base of 
the border have been heavily shaded, and the light partially 
obscured, by a row of chrysanthemums in 12-inch pots. 
The narrow variegated fronds are those which were exposed 
in the early summer to the full light and the little morning 
sun that reached them ; the wider fronds, those matured 
with an entire absence of sun and the obviously more moist 
conditions. 

I am sending you at the same time two characteristic 
fronds of another Scolopendvinm, located in the same border, 
bearing very pronounced traces of variegation. The fronds 
sent are typical of the entire plant, and each year show no 
reversion to the normal type. This fern, though not one 


i6i 

of the most robust-growing kinds, is apparently in perfect 
health. That variegation can be temporarily brought 
about by unnatural conditions is obvious, but the plant, 
with a more liberal treatment and normal conditions, soon 
grows out of it. 

The cause of variegation in plants is a very debatable 
and obscure subject, but that constant forms of variegated 
Hartstongues exist is, I think, beyond doubt, although, 
perhaps, good forms are rare. To perpetuate and still 
more markedly develop this trait may be possible, and 
opens up an interesting vista to the fern enthusiast ; but 
there is another side to the picture. A short time ago I 
was induced to submit a selection of choice fronds to a 
meeting of members of a College Field Club, and the 
Principal, in introducing them to the notice of the members 
present, characterized them as freaks of fern life. I need 
scarcely say it was anything but pleasing to find the 
beautiful specimens shown dubbed as freaks. To me they 
were types much more highly evolved than their forbears ; 
but I am afraid that variegated ferns might well merit that 
term, because, apart from being a distinct break from the 
normal, variegation is not a very desirable characteristic, 
and would give the uninitiated the impression that the 
plant was in the first stages of dissolution. Nevertheless, 
it is a very interesting subject, and I may mention that the 
two ferns in question have been singled out and evoked 
comment from friends examining my collection. 

J. \V. Tucker. 

Ferncroft, 

St. Thomas, Exeter. 


SOME ADVENTURES OF A NOVICE. 

By Francis W. Thorrington. 

Occasionally I wonder whether any other member of the 
British Pteridological Society happens to have encountered 
quite the same set of difficulties as mine. Imagine a 


l62 

garden plot of about half an acre (50 by 500 feet), open, 
wind-swept, and sunny, the only fencing being posts and 
wire. The small " lean-to " was carefully placed by the 
builder against the west wall of the house, hence it is shady 
and cold each morning, sunny and hot each afternoon 
throughout the summer. However, a good-sized tree of 
Pviinus Pissardi that I planted to give shade to the green- 
house is now beginning to be useful to the ferns inside. 

Out-of-doors the first consideration has been, and still is, 
a determined fight against such foes as couch-grass, 
creeping-thistle, convolvulus, coltsfoot, sow-thistles, etc., 
to say nothing of a multitude of annual weeds. Quite 
frequently I have cleaned banks and borders, planted them 
with young ferns, and found all my care defied by a strong 
encroachment of these weed marauders from over my 
frontier. Moreover, besides weeds, I have been indebted 
to neighbourly attentions from cats, dogs, poultry, pigeons, 
and even pigs. At the end of my plot some oak trees 
throw their leaves, and, deeming the resultant leaf-mould 
good, I planted banks of ferns in their shade. Imagine 
my joy when, returning home from a visit last Christmas, 
I discovered most of my ferns uprooted, and learned that 
two pigs had been diligently grubbing for acorns during 
my absence. 

I am gradually overcoming the weeds by cutting out 
deep paths. This results in what is sometimes known as 
a " Devonshire lane " — a bank of soil each side of the 
sunken path, on which ferns, etc. may be established. 

The battle against drought is ever with me, and, in 
addition to the more usual methods, such as placing stones 
around each plant, I have tried a plan which T venture to 
recommend to our members' attention, in case they have 
not already used it. There is a dwarf-growung " carpeting " 
plant, known as the Corsican Nettle Moss {Hclxine SoleivoUi 
[Corsica]). This keeps a bright green mat around the 
crowns of the ferns, and greatly conserves the moisture 
available. The first severe frosts blacken the foliage of 


i63 

this plant, which is not perfectly hardy, but around and 
under the fern fronds, and nestling in the lee of every 
stone, it maintains its verdurous appearance, and with the 
first warm spring days commences rapidly to spread again 
from these shelters. It thus appears to have somewhat 
of frost-protecting value for the fern crowns, besides its 
summer function as a moisture retainer. 

At first sight it might seem that the Helxine would 
harbour slugs, yet I have seldom seen many on it, and 
those were easily caught on its close carpeting leafage. 
Altogether, I fancy the plant is well worth experimenting 
with, and I hope I shall induce a few of the Society's 
membership to criticise my results. 

The fern cult first captured me when I w^as living at 
Rochester, Kent, about 1898. I gradually acquired a 
selection of hardy and semi - hardy exotics, such as 
Adianttim pedattim, Woodmardia radicans, Onoclea sensihilis, 
Cyvtomium falcatum, Asp. hnlbiferum, and a number of 
Pteviscs. Several of these plants I still possess and 
cherish. 

I don't know whether it is treasonable on the part of a 
member of the British Pteridological Society, but I still 
feel that Adiantum pedattim, at its best, is "a gem of the 
first water." The multitude of plantlets on Asp. hiilhifevwn 
was W'hat first drew me towards British ferns, as it caused 
me to take great delight in a proliferous Shield Fern I came 
across. It was a very ordinary "proliferum," not by any 
means equal to aciitilohum prol. elegaus. I raised numbers 
of these bulbils, and hold strongly the opinion that as a 
means of attracting fern lovers, and inducing them to " try 
their hands " at easy methods of propagation, the most 
freely proliferous of our soft Shield Ferns are hard to beat. 
It is not every day that one comes across the enthusiast — 
the person who eventually boasts a collection of choice 
things, and joys in our membership. Such people are 
rare, and for every one of them I believe there can be 
found scores of ordinary " fern lovers," of the type that 


r64 

patronize the hawkers, who are doing their best (or worst) 
to denude our ferny counties of their treasure. Let such 
people once realize how easily they can secure a stock of 
these fine evergreen ferns by such simple bulbil growth, 
and we have almost succeeded in shutting their doors in 
the face of " the man with sack and trowel." 

In my own evolution, the next stage was an attempt to 
grow a piece of Bracken rhizome, taken up one April and 
planted on a shelf in my greenhouse. This grew rapidly, 
and actually pushed behind the shelf, crawled down the 
wall until it bridged the three-feet gap, reached the ground, 
and burrowed into it. Evidently the shallow soil of the 
shelf provoked it to this great effort. Since then I have 
had a great respect for the vigour and resource of our 
commonest fern. 

A relative then sent me a tiny frond of a fern, and asked 
me to name it. It had been grown in a living-room, and 
much ill-treated, so, in those early days of my fern love, it 
is scarcely surprising that I was baffled. Later on, how- 
ever, I was given a division of the plant. In the greenhouse 
it speedily developed evergreen fronds, at least twelve times 
the size of the piece I was desired to name. When the 
happy day arrived, on which my wife " spotted " on a 
second-hand bookstall a copy of Mr. t)ruery's first book, 
" Choice British Ferns,'' I discovered from the plates that 
I possessed a specimen of the Welsh Polypody. 

Next came my attendance at one of ^Ir. Druery's 
lectures to the National Amateur Gardeners' Association. 
This was a revelation. I made the acquaintance there of 
both Mr. Druery and ^Nlr. Green, and left the Hall an 
absolute convert to the British Fern cult. Much of my 
subsequent enjoyment has been due to several kindly 
gifts of plants, bulbils, and spores from Messrs. Druery, 
Green, and Whitwell. 

My only wild "discovery," if it can be so styled, was a 
bracken seedling that appeared on some peat from an 
Essex common. It proved to be a nicely crested form. 


i65 

and, I fancy, must have arisen from a merely " bifid " 
parent, as repeated subsequent search all over the common 
has disclosed nothing but the veriest " tips " as an approach 
to cristation. This year I have raised a batch of youngsters 
from my seedling. Amongst them I have, I believe, a 
percentage of grandiceps, though whether they are big 
enough to survive the winter remains to be seen. This 
autumn I also collected spores on the same common from 
fronds which showed most approach to a " crispa " 
character, and I now have a pan of prothallus from these, 
though I fear the variation was too slight to yield me any 
results of interest. 

Although my total of varieties would doubtless appear 
very small to most of our members, yet I find I am regarded 
by gardening acquaintances as quite a fern specialist. 
Doubtless, indeed, it is a surprise to the uninitiated to see 
even my few plants. I cannot boast the plumose 
Polysti chums, etc., the " sissimum " types as Mr. Green 
calls them, yet I have such gems as A. f. fcemina Phtmosum 
Dvuevyi ; several fine crested Athyriums, and one 
narrow, almost Frizellae one; the "King of Male 
Ferns"; and also L. p. mas cvispa and L. 
dilatata gvandiceps. Then come those fine divisilohe Poly- 
stlchums, longiplnnatum, stipulatitm [CavhoneU), pevfectnm 
(Jones), Holeance, and several fine " proliferums " ; Poly- 
podium V. Cambricum, P. v. grandiceps (Fox), pulchevvimuin, 
and elegantissimo-mnltifidum ; a number of beautiful Harts- 
tongues, and last, but not least, that yearly delight 
Osmunda vegalis cvistata. 

The majority of these (the last-mentioned is a notable 
exception, though) do far better with me when planted in 
the open than under glass, as, owing to west facing of my 
greenhouse, they get such a scorching on summer after- 
noons. However, no discouragement can damp one's 
enthusiasm in face of so much exquisite frondage. I am 
well content to go on cultivating, in the hope that one day 
I shall create the ' fern fever ' in someone else locally. 


i66 

My " adventures in Fernland " have been pregnant with 
interest to me. I trust this halting narration of them has 
not been of too ' boring ' a nature. A hearty farewell 
greeting to all the fellow-adventurers in our delightful 
branch of gardening. 


OUR WONDERFUL NATIVE FERNS. 

Considering the fact that in many parts of the world 
ferns grow on a much more luxuriant scale than they do 
in the British Isles, the conditions of warmth and humidity 
being such as to encourage greater development, and 
bearing in mind that we can only claim about forty-four 
species belonging to seventeen genera, while some tropical 
and sub-tropical islands reckon these by the hundred and 
by the score, respectively, it may be asked in what special 
respect can the term "wonderful" be applied? The 
answer to this question may be given succinctly enough, 
viz. that although we have only forty-four species these 
species have "sported" to such an extraordinary extent 
that at least two thousand distinct varieties can be definitely 
described and catalogued, while five thousand would 
probably not be an over-estimate of forms which an expert 
could determine as distinct. A very large number of these 
'' sports" are far and away more beautiful than the normal 
forms whence they have, in some inscrutable fashion, 
originated, so that while for our normal specific forms, 
pretty as many of them are, it cannot be claimed that they 
equal in beauty some of the finest exotics, their varietal 
types in many instances can hold their own with the best 
of those, while in diversity of type, within specific or even 
generic limits, the exotic ferns are utterly eclipsed by 
several of the British species. 

It is, indeed, one of the peculiar wonders in this con- 
nection that sports have been found wherein the specific 
type has been modified on lines of which not even a trace 
has so far been found in exotics, while it may safely be 


i67 

stated that so far as sports found under wild conditions 
are numerically concerned, our forty odd species have 
yielded more than all the hundreds of genera and 
thousands of species of the rest of the world combined. 
Our term of " wonderful " is therefore seen to be well 
justified ; since, however, it is difficult to believe that there 
is anything in the climate, soil, or general plant environ- 
ments of Great Britain which does not obtain elsewhere 
in the world, and to which may be attributed an extra 
sportive tendency in the ferns, and since, moreover, the 
writer in his travels has been successful by assiduous 
search in finding fern varieties elsewhere, it is to be 
assumed that the peculiar richness of our British varietal 
collections is mainly, if not entirely, due to the fact that 
the search for such varieties has formed an uniquely 
British hobby for more than half a century. A few marked 
forms having been then discovered in our fern districts 
of Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall, and elsewhere, 
these attracted attention and started a cult which was 
eventually earnestly pursued by an increasing coterie of 
fern fanciers, with the result that their research was 
rewarded every now and again by the acquisition of new 
and unexpected types. 

The " cult " was still further encouraged when experi- 
ence demonstrated that these "sports " not only as a rule 
reproduced themselves truly and constantly from their 
spores, but every now and again would yield typical 
progeny on still more marked lines, so that selective 
culture led to great improvement. 

It may give some idea of the success attending per- 
severing search for these new forms among the common 
types of the hedge, ditch, old wall, stone dyke or shady 
glen, when it is recorded that one of the original 
pioneers, Mr. J. Moly, in Dorset, found 600 distinct 
varieties within his own district, while his near neighbour, 
Dr. Wills, also found a large number, no two of which, 
it may be remarked, were identical in form. Eventually 


i68 

fern hunters were to be found in every part of the country 
where ferns prevailed, so that by their joint labours 
England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and even the Channel 
Islands, one and all, contributed their quotas to the ever- 
increasing list. 

We are, therefore, inclined to attribute to this peculiar 
hobby, rather than to anything else, the existence in this 
country of such magnificent collections as we find in Kew 
Gardens, and here and there in private hands. The search 
for abnormal forms of this kind involves a peculiar con- 
centration of attention which, in our opinion, stands in the 
way of success of the all-round botanist. Nothing less 
than the examination of every individual fern within sight 
will suffice. The " sport " may only betray itself by the 
tip of a frond amid a jungle of common ones, and as a rule 
it is a solitary example, since they rarely multiply to any 
extent in situ ; or it may be but a small seedling, or a dwarf 
sport, in all or any of which cases it is very liable to be 
overlooked and the opportunity missed. The botanist 
proper cannot refrain from noting other plants as he pro- 
ceeds, and that is fatal to fern-hunting success. It is due 
to this reason we imagine that comparatively so few wild 
exotic sports are recorded ; furthermore, the conditions of 
fern hunting in tropical and sub-tropical countries are 
different, the very abundance of the species and the luxuri- 
ance of growth handicaps the varietal fern hunter, who 
otherwise we feel convinced, could endow our Exotic Fern 
collections with beautifully tasselled or plumose Tree Ferns, 
etc., on the lines of some of our British gems of that ilk. 

Charles T. Dkuery. 
[To he continued.) 


LIST OF NEW MEMBERS. 

Mr. R. M. MilUgan, Holywood, co. Down (correction of last issue). 

Mr. W. Watson, Curator, Royal Gardens, Kew . 

Mrs. Anne C. C. Winser, Adderley Rectory, Market Drayton. 

Lady Dorrington, Lypiatt Park, Stroud, Glos. 

Sir Alfred Apperley, Rodborough Court, Stroud, Glos. 

Mr. Philip Dowell, Port Richmond, New York, U.S. America. 

Mrs. Stanley Powell, "Dorcas," Stapleford, Crawley. Sussex. 

NEW FERNS. 

From Sir Archibald Buchan Hepburn we have received fronds and 
sketches of a very fine form of Hartstongue found in Wigtonshire, 
Scotland, on an old wall in association with numerous normals, and 
under conditions which stamp it as an absolutely wild sport. It 
bears broad foliose ramo-cristate fronds on very bold Hues, and apart 
from its handsome character is, we believe, unique as a wild variety 
of that species recorded in Scotland, where it is rare, only occurring, 
we believe, at a few places on the west coast. It would interest us 
to hear of others. We have ourselves found it near Wigton, on the 
Cree estuary. 

Polypodium vulgan (? var.). From Mr. W. Richter Roberts we have 
received a frond from a plant found by him last year on a dry hedge 
bank near Barnstaple. As a small plant it appears to be a replica 
of P. V. cornubiense, but as it requires trial, we merely mention it now, 
and will recur to it later on. 

"Bpitish Ferns and Their Varieties," by Charles T. Dmery, 

V.M.H., F.L.S., with forty magnificent coloured plates, 319 wood cuts 
and other illustrations, and 96 monochrome reprints of a selection of 
the choicest varieties, nature printed, by the late Col. A. M. Jones of 
Clifton, with his original notes i?i exUnso. In cloth 7s. 6d. net ; in half 
morocco, gilt, los. 6d. net. 

It will interest the members to know that by the enterprise of 
Messrs. George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., the author has been enabled 
to realize one of the pet ambitions of his life, viz. the production, on 
practically untrammelled lines, of a thoroughly up-to-date and well 
illustrated record of our native ferns in their specific and varietal 
forms, together with such information as to their history, culture and 
biological peculiarities as will render the work a thorough compendium 
of knowledge for the amateur's reference plus indications of sources 
of knowledge valuable to those who take an interest on the scientific 
side. The addition of an appendix consisting of ninety-six of the 
choicest of the late Colonel Jones' nature prints, accompanied by his 
contemporary notes, which the author has been kindly permitted by 
Miss Jones to use as a supplement, renders this book an absolutely 
unique one, apart from its comprehensive and practical character in 
other directions. Certainly no British Fern lover or Botanical Library 
should be without it as the standard work on the subject, and it would 
he an advantage to the author [the Editor of the Gazette and Secretary of the 
British Pteridological Society) if orders for it were sent to him personally to 
II, Shaa Road, Acton, W. 


=^ FERNS. ^= 

* * * 

H. B. MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country^ 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sires, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

* * ¥ 

stove, 6r(tnDou$e. and otDcr Plants 
. . .arc also laraeiy arown. . . . 

^ ^ ^ 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants oan be had post free 
upon application to — 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE KURSERIES, UPPER EDMONTON. 


Jl 


VOL. I, No. 8. 


. . . ^be . . . 


JBritieb jfem 
(5a3ette* 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


June, I9n. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Hon. Secretary, C, T. Dntery, ii, Shaa Rd., Acton, London, W.) 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


POLYPODIUM V. OMNILACERUM. 


THE 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 


Vol. I. 


JUNE, igii. 


No. 8. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Editorial Notes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 169 

Our Frontispiece (P. vulgare omnilacerum) .. .. .. 170 

The August Meeting .. .. .. .. .. .. 171 

Fern Pockets and Other Contrivances (illustrated) . . 173 

Our Wonderful Native Ferns, by Charles T. Druery 

{continued) 176 

The Transmutation (?) of Lastrea ^Emula .. .. 179 

Fern "Seeds" .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 183 

The Lady Fern (Athyrium filix foemina) .. .. .. 185 

Blechnum spicant var. concinnum .. .. .. .. 187 

New Ferns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 188 

The Benbow Herbarium Collection of Ferns .. .. 189 

New Members .. .. .. .. .. .. Inside Cover 

British Ferns and their varieties .. .. .. ,, ,, 


EDITORIAL NOTES. 

In the first place we would call the particular attention 
of our members to the forthcoming August Meeting, 
of which particulars follow, and trust that the appeal 
will bear good fruit. We would also appeal to them 
to do their utmost to increase the membership by 
mentioning the Society to all of their friends who take 
an interest in our native ferns. As will be seen in this 
number we increase the number of illustrations, and it 
is our ambition to also increase the number of pages 
and consequent information, but to this end it is essential 
that more subscriptions should be obtained to cover 
the inevitably increased outlay. We have made wonder- 
ful progress since the '* Gazette " was started, which has 
won golden opinions from competent critics both here 
and abroad, as our foreign members indicate, as a 
recognized "expert" publication, and yet adapted tg 


170 

every amateur. The subscription of 5s. per annum 
(August to August), entitling to four issues of the 
"Gazette" and bringing more and more numerous fern 
lovers into immediate touch with each other, is surely 
moderate enough. The Editor will be delighted to send 
a specimen copy of the "Gazette" to anyone contem- 
plating joining. His address is 11, Shaa Road, Acton, 
London, W., to which all MS. and other communications 
should be directed. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

POLYPODIUM V. OMNIL ACERUiM. 

This fine old variety has been so rarely seen in 
character of late years that its occurrence deserves to 
be recorded. I recently came across it in splendid 
condition at Oxford. The photograph sent herewith 
exhibits it in its best form. The acutely pointed pinnules 
are well shown, as also the finely serrulate margins. 
The extreme depth and leafiness of the fronds is, however, 
only imperfectly indicated. The plant was growing in 
the open air in the Oxford Botanic Garden, without 
protection of any kind beyond the shelter of surroundino- 
walls and hedges. It was planted in a bed of deep 
vegetable soil, mainly leaf mould, in which both roots 
and rhizomes could run freely. As usual only a propor- 
tion of the fronds displayed the highest character 
(although all were recognizable), but these, being the 
largest and most luxuriant, eclipsed and almost hid the 
inferior ones. Mr. Baker, the courteous and genial 
curator, is to be congratulated upon a notable success 
in culture. 

I am not sure that there are not two strains of 
omnilacevum (without counting Williams's and Aldren's 
forms). This Oxford one is evidently the same as the 
one figured in last " Gazette," whereas Mr. Cranfield's 


171 

plant is more like the nature print by Colonel Jones of 
a plant grown by Mr. Clowes. 

The deep leafy frond and fine serrulate margin is 
characteristic of the one form and a more laxly built 
frond with very acute lobes, of the other. Of course 
the differences may not be permanent, but at all events 
they seem to be distinct " states " of the variety. Both 
are alike when out of best character — the form is reduced 
to the mere " serratum," which is most frequently seen. 

F. W. Stansfield. 


THE AUGUST MEETING. 

It will be remembered that at the Annual meeting of 
the members of our Society at Moffat, on August Bank 
holiday of last year, it was resolved that this year's 
meeting should be held at Barnstaple, as a favourable 
centre fo'r Fern hunting in Devonshire and a change 
from the meetings held hitherto in the Lake District, 
or, as on the last occasion, in the South of Scotland. 
By all those who are intimately acquainted with Devon 
and its adjacent counties, Dorset and Somerset, it is 
recognized that not only are more species to be found 
there than in the northern districts, but that they are 
far more abundant, a fact which is proved by the 
discovery of far more fine varieties by such hunters as 
Moly, Wells, Wollaston and others, including Benbow, 
to whom we refer elsewhere, than can be recorded from 
other parts. 

As a preliminary to the contemplated meeting, Mr. 
W. B. Cranfield and the Editor devoted the Easter 
holidays to a visit to Barnstaple, with the double view of 
making arrangements for the members' accommodation 
and of determining as far as possible the best hunting 
localities within easy reach of Barnstaple. With regard 
to the first item, they put up at the " Golden Lion " 
Hotel, where the main meeting place will be located, 


172 

while there are numerous Temperance and other Hotels, 
on more economical lines, for the selection of members 
who may prefer them or who cannot be provided for at 
the ** Golden Lion," where sleeping accommodation is 
restricted to some eight or ten. 

One advantage presented by this town is the existence 
of a narrow gauge railway crossing the country to 
Linton, and thus tapping at intervals some of the ferniest 
districts which it is possible to find in Great Britain, 
innumerable typical Devonian lanes deeply sunk in 
high banks, teeming with Ferns, permeating the country 
in all directions ; while in such places as Woody Bay 
and Hedensmouth, on the coast, the wealth of Ferns in 
the sloping woods must be seen to be believed. At this 
early period of the season Fern hunting naturally was 
severely handicapped, the deciduous species being only 
represented by dead and shrivelled fronds, while even 
the evergreens were more or less weather-beaten, browned 
and damaged. From previous experience, however, 
we know that the following species abound, viz. Lastrea 
filix mas., pseudo mas., dilatata, cBmula, montana, Polystichum 
angidave and aciileaUim^ Athyrium filix foemina, Asplenhim 
tnchomanes, Adiantum nigvum, ceterach^ and near, and on 
the coast, mavimim, lanceolatuiii, P. viilgave, Scolopendrium 
vulgave (everywhere), Blechnum spicant, and of course 
P. aqtiilina. P. angulave, and Scolopendviuui prevail in the 
hedgebanks, and the latter in some parts fills the inter- 
stices of the stone dykes by the hundred. In the course 
of our rambles we took careful account of the richest 
areas, and thus shall be able to afford reliable guidance 
to the hunting parties, which we anticipate will be 
organized as usual before and after the meeting, of which 
a due reminder will be given in July. 

Meanwhile we would ask our members to take special 
note of this preliminary advice as we are naturally 
extremely anxious that with our largely increased member- 
ship a goodly number should seize the occasion not 


^72> 

merely of a pleasant outing, with possible prizes, but 
also of meeting a congenial coterie of fellow Fern lovers 
to mutual advantage. In conclusion we may mention 
that the members should, if possible, assemble on the 
Friday evening prior to the meeting, thus affording 
opportunities for excursions, which can be arranged for the 
following days. 


FERN POCKETS AND OTHER 
CONTRIVANCES. 

For those who possess a knack of making things for 
themselves, a word or two on home-made contrivances in 
the Fern line may be apposite. Rough pockets and 
troughs made of cork are common enough, and in the early 
days of our fern fever we constructed a number of such 
from the masses of rough cork supplied by nurserymen and 
fitted together by means of strong coppsr wire, a bradawl,, 
a pair of cutting pliers, and a rough saw. For this purpose 
the tubular pieces are very adaptable, especially as after a 
good soak in water they become pliable and can be opened 
out, and of course when secured by wire to each other or 
their supports retain their shape. We figure one of these 
so treated and attached to an ordinary roofing slate (Fig. 
i), this particular one being of peculiar interest to us, as 
it still retains a crested Lady Fern in full vigour, which 
was planted in it when made at least twenty-five years ago, 
all that has been done since being to fill up occasionally 
on the top with a few handful s of compost when shrinkage 
has afforded room. A number of seedlings have spontane- 
ously appeared in the various holes indicated, and the 
Lady Fern has developed several crowns, and throws up 
every season a full number of healthy fronds, two feet or 
more long, though we confess that it is a puzzle to us; 
what the roots can find to feed on after so many years of. 
growth within so confined an area of the same soil. The 
use of roofing slates is, however, less common and yet they 


Fig. G. 


6 


ts 


o 


175 

form admirable material, quite imperishable and not un- 
sightly. The ordinary roof slates, obtainable from any 
builder, are of two kinds, oblong, about two feet long and 
over one broad, and longer, narrower and thicker ones 
which are used at the ridges, about four feet long by six 
inches. These can be sawn into required dimensions with 
a rough ordinary saw, or broken after deeply scoring the 
surface with a bradawl and pierced where required by the 
same instrument. We give a few illustrations of what 
can be done with these, which practically explain them- 
selves. 


Fig. 5. 

Fig. 2 shews how a corner can be filled up with a series 
of pockets, each of which can accommodate one or more 
ferns without interference with the others, nails driven into 
the wall securing them in position ; and Fig. 3 shews how 
the material for such pockets can be shaped, and also how 
one can be attached to a slate and be capable of removal, 
the necessary holes for the wiring and holes for small 
lateral plants being indicated. In wiring the wire should 
be bent and passed^through from the outside, the twisting 
by pliers being 'effected behind or inside for neatness sake. 


176 

These are really very easily made and are practically ever- 
lasting. 

Figs. 4 and 5 shews a capital window box made with 
the narrow ridge slates, and also the mode of constructing 
troughs on walls or in frames with the same material, 
though here, of course, the larger ordinary slates can also 
be used in like manner, a shews the wall, b a row of strong 
nails driven in at every slate length, c a row of strong 
galvanized hooks at the same distance, and d shews the 
position of the holes for the overlapped slates, where con- 
nection is made with copper wire by passing it through 
and over the hooks as shewn. Overlapping is not essential 
with the narrow ridge slates, nor absolutely so with the 
larger ones if care be taken to suspend them evenly so 
that the edges fairly meet. Such troughs are extremely 
handy, and can be made to occupy wall room with fine 
effect. Needless to say the ridge slates are also well fitted 
for flat shelves, laid on galvanized angle iron brackets. 

With the ridge slates, removable suspended troughs can 
be constructed on the principle of the window boxes, 
triangular ends and central stiffeners being inserted and 
wired as already described. Suspension is effected by 
means of nails in the wall, passing through the holes 
which are already provided in the slates. In all these 
contrivances good drainage should be supplied by pieces 
of broken bricks or pots, as in the troughs the shape tends 
to tight packing of the soil, which of coarse should be a 
light and open compost. C. T. D. 


OUR WONDERFUL NATIVE FERNS (contimied). 

In any case, to whatever cause the great pre-eminence of 
Great Britain in beautiful fern sports may be due, its 
existence cannot be challenged, as is evidenced by the latest 
issued general descriptive list of Mr. E. J. Lowe, F.R.S., 
" British Ferns" (i8gi),in which nearly 2,000 varieties are 
classified and described, of which over 1,100 were found 


177 

wild, i.e. under absolutely natural conditions among the 
common specific types. Nearly all the forty odd species 
have contributed, but three species stand out markedly 
from the rest in the marvellous versatility with which Dame 
Nature has endowed them. These are the Hartstongue 
{Scolopendvium vulgare), 450 varieties; the Lady Fern (Athy- 
riujii filix fcemina), 313 varieties; and the Shield Fern 
(Polystichuiii angidave), 384 varieties ; the six species of 
Buckler Ferns (Lastreas) following at a respectful distance 
with a total of 259, and the common Polypody of our 
hedgerows and old walls (Polypodmm vulgare), imitating 
them with the respectable quota of 75. The Hartstongue, 
it will be noted, stands out as the most varied of all, a fact 
which must strike anyone very forcibly who is familiar 
with that simple strap-fronded fern, as we may see it 
starring old walls with dwarfed specimens, or pushing out 
lush-growing bright green tongues from the hedge bottoms 
of Devon, etc., where it revels most. This fern is, in point 
of fact, the most remarkable fern in all the world as regards 
its protean character. It is worth while to study it a bit 
to see how it has managed to assume 450 distinct forms. 
The plant normally consists of a radiating bunch of fronds, 
consisting of a bare stalk some inches long, surmounted by 
a strap-shaped, smooth, plain-edged leaf with two semi- 
circular lobes at the point where the stalk enters the frond 
and forms its midrib. The plain strap form continues for 
some distance, and then tapers a little abruptly to a blunt 
point. Now a very short search where plants are plentiful 
will yield specimens with divided tips to the fronds, an 
indication of that peculiarly faculty of forming tassels 
which seems to pervade the fern family generally. In the 
Hartstongue this capacity is evidenced in all grades, from 
a. mere forking to a many-branched ramification on banched 
or fanned lines finely cut, or coarsely cut, and in fact 
varied in scores of ways on this particular line, culminating 
in one instance (5. V. densiim Kelway), in a dense moss-like 
ball of vegetation, in which all semblance of the frond 


178 

proper is lost. The flat strap may be transformed into two 
parallel deep frills, and these frills may bear beautiful 
fringes, the plants so characterized, i.e. the cnspum section, 
being certainly the most beautiful of all. Then the plain 
edge may be saw-toothed or even deeply cut in quite obvious 
attempts to assume the divided frond form of other species. 
This has many grades. The smooth surface may be ridged, 
roughened, and otherwise varied both above and below, the 
two round lobes next the stalk may be extended into 
pointed ones, and then into long tasselled ones, or even 
into secondary fronds to form a trident one way or a barbed 
arrow in another, and finally, two or three of these peculiari- 
ties may be combined, so that a little consideration will 
show that even the 450 does not exhaust the possible 
combinations, and in point of fact only represents such 
proportion of existing varieties as could be definitely 
christened. It is, however, to the Lady Fern and Shield 
Fern that we must look for the most beautiful forms, and 
here it is the Lady Fern which, true to its name, has been 
most inventive in new and charming fashions. The 
plumose or extra feathery forms of both these species 
constitute the elite of British Fern forms, the density and 
lace-like delicacy of the finely cut frondage, and the grace 
of the many stranded tassels which hang pendulously from 
the tips of the divisions cannot possibly be conveyed except 
by illustrations, and even then but faintly. In point of 
fact we feel so strongly the impossibility of conveying any 
adequate idea of what the finest forms of British Ferns 
are like by mere words, that we will not attempt to do so, 
but will merely invite special attention to their study when 
private collections are available for a visit or public exhibi- 
tions, such as are now being prepared, present the desired 
opportunity. 

It is worthy of remark that with very rare exceptions all 
these beautiful forms are perfectly hardy, of very easy 
culture, and only require glass protection in such cases 
where their delicacy of cutting or make demands protection 


1/9 

from winds or heavy rains. Every conservatory facing" 
North and in the shadow of the house, is far better adapted 
for a collection of British Fern gems, than for flowers. 
In the garden, they are admirably fitted for rockery culture 
where a little shade and shelter can be given them. In 
this connection we can only express our regret that the 
common weed forms of two or three species, Male Fern, 
Lady Fern and Shield Fern as hawked about by vandal- 
istic costermongers in the Spring, or displayed ignominously 
in boxes outside nurserymen's shops, should constitute the 
popular ideal of our British Ferns, and figure monotonously 
in thousands of gardens by the dozen and by the score, 
while the great store of far more beautiful and varied 
material such as we have described, is all but utterly 
ignored. 

Finally, in scientific hands it has been found that our 
native Ferns, in addition to their external "sportive" 
character, afford many equally remarkable and instructive 
variants in their reproductive phenomena and cell for- 
mation generally. This branch, however, is of too technical 
a nature to admit here of more than an allusion, it con- 
stitutes a unique chapter in itself. 

Charles T. Druery. 


THE TRANSMUTATION (?) OF LASTREA 

^MULA. 

The late Mr. E. J. Lowe, whose name is so well known 
to every lover and grower of Ferns, and whose writings 
have done and still are doing so much for Fern culture, 
makes in his little popular book " British Ferns," which 
was published in the Young Collector Series, 1890, by 
Swan, Sonnenschein & Co., a curious statement about 
the transmutation of one species into another. This is the 
passage, which occurs on page 145 : — 

" In a wood at Hackness, near Scarborough (I am 
" speaking of twenty years ago), N, dilatatum was near the 


I So 

"base of the hill five feet high, and was common to half- 
-way up this hill, where N. ,^imdnm mingled with it; 
" higher up Omnium was common, and dilatatuin absent. 
" My brother and myself being surprised at this change, 
^' we determined to test it, and from many thousand plants 
" of Omnium we removed five hundred to Highfield House. 
'* In a couple of years several changed to dilatatnm ; the 
"next year an increased number, until at length Omnium 
^' was the exception to the rule. At the same time we had 
•" a score in pots, but none of these changed." 

Having come from such a source as it does, and being 
so very particular and circumstantial, it is worth considera- 
tion. Bacon writes in his Natural History, i 525 : "The 
"transmutation of species is, in the vulgar philosophy, 
" pronounced impossible ; and certainly it is a thing of 
' difficulty, and requireth deep search into nature." But 
Mr. Lowe's experiment fails to prove what he believed 
about the transmutation of Aimnla into dilatata. 

If the experiment were worth anything, the same con- 
ditions should have been observed with both the score and 
the five hundred, but he grew the latter in the open, and 
the former under glass. Were Mr. Lowe's supposed 
experience of any force we would never find dilatata and 
^tnula growing together, as he acknowledges he found 
them half-way up the hill. My own experience is that they 
are often found mixed in localities in Kerry and Mayo, 
from sea level up to five hundred feet. I wonder whether 
Bacon believed in this transmutation, at any rate he 
acknowledges the " difficulty " and necessity for " deep 
search" in arriving at a conclusion as to the transmutation 
of species. 

Evidently Mr. Lowe held that dilatata and .^mula are 
two forms of the same species, the former being the low- 
land and the latter the highland form. If this were so, 
would it be possible to have .Emulas growing in the low- 
lands ? Mr. Lowe's potted yUmul as seemed to have grown all 
right when brought down from their native habitat, and 


i8i 

none of them showed any disposition of turning into 
dilatatas. 

I cannot imagine that two species, which possess a large 
number of features in respect of which they differ from 
each other, should be transmuted the one into the 
other according as they chanced to grow on a high or 
low land. However, as Mr. Lowe says nothing about 
dilatata turning into JEnmla, his transmutation difficulty 
becomes the greater. It is ^mula alone that has this 
property. 

My own experience with plants of ^lutilas removed 
•from their native habitats in Kerry and Mayo to my garden 
in Down is this : It is often chary of putting up new 
fronds when replanted, and often dies in the first or second 
year. This I attribute to the rough usage the plants 
received when taken out of the ground, and to the great 
amount of moisture lost by the plant while being carried 
home, and perhaps not getting any water or being replanted 
for several days. Such treatment is often unavoidable, 
but it does not tend to encourage the plant to heal its 
wounded stolons, roots and fronds ; they consequently 
linger in a delicate condition for a few years and then die. 
The remains of the dead plant, be it large or small — its 
crown — is left in the ground, and I have over and over 
again noticed that such dead stools become a nursery for 
young ferns of various species. 

They are ideal spots for the spores from the neighbouring 
Perns to commence life in. And then some day the owner 
comes round and chances to see a L. mas. or/, foemina, or 
a dilatata tiny frondlet growing out of the lifeless crown of 
what had been a.nJEmula, and hey, presto ! — there you are ! 
Emilia has transmuted into dilatata ! ! 

In Mr. Lowe's experiment the twenty plants grown in 
pots were, I presume, kept under glass, and therefore were 
less likely to have spores of dilatata settling on them, while 
the five hundred that were planted in the open in his 
garden were exposed to having spores of dilatata borne to 


l82 


them by every wind of heaven. This is the solution of 
this mystery. 

At the moment of writing (May, ign) there are in my 
Fernery several examples of this ; these plants of j^mida 
were brought by me five years ago from near Lough Eagle 
Mountains, two miles west from Dingle, the most westerly 
mountain in Europe, and now young dilatatas occupy their 
places. 

These squatters in the old dead stools of A!]miila in a 
couple of years will be at least as large as each ^miila 
originally was, and if I had not seen the interloping 
dilatatas, when the first frondlets issued from the prothallus 
I might have been puzzled to account for the presence of 
dilatata ; yes, and some filix. mas. where I had planted 
nothing but ^mula. There is nothing to establish the 
transmutation Mr. Lowe thought he had discovered. 

The points in which JEmuhi differs from dilatata are 
these : — 


^Emula. 

Scales of stipe fewer, nar- 
rower, mostly torn at 
margin, and concolorous. 


Fronds more decidedly ever- 
green, annual decay be- 
gins at apex and proceeds 
downwards, the stipe 
continuing firm to the 
last. 

Surface of frond both of 
pinnae and pinnules con- 
cave, having a crispy 
appearance. 

Indusium bordered with 


sessile glands. 


DlL.\tATA. 

Scales of stipe more numer- 
ous, wider, entire at mar- 
gin, strongly two-coloured, 
the centre dark and mar- 
gins paler. 

Fronds not lasting so long, 
decaying from the base 
upwards, the stipe often 
withering while the frond 
still retains its greenness. 

Surface of frond more or 
less convex. 


Indusium fringed with 
stalked glands. 


'83 


iEMULA. DiLATATA. 


Frond has no more a pe- 
culiar odour than has 
L. /. mas. or L. /. fcemina. 


Frond has a pleasant strong 
fragrance when bruised, 
resembling that of new 
hay, and, as in the case of 
hay, becoming developed 
during the desiccation of 
the plant. 

All these characters are permanent in the normal forms, 
and most of them are found in the few varieties of both 
these species known to cultivators. 

H. W. Lett. 

The above interesting note from the Rev. Canon un- 
doubtedly entirely disposes of the idea entertained by Mr* 
Lowe, that L. cemida changed, owing to the environment, 
into L. dilatata. L. ismula in the open is a far more 
delicate and less assertive fern than L. dilatata, and would 
be very apt to perish where the latter would thrive. As the 
Canon points out, there are very distinct specific differences 
between the two, and the simple fact that the potted plants 
grown under glass retained these characters, while with 
those in the open they disappeared and were replaced by L. 
dilatata ones, simply means that high or low evolution 
had nothing to do with the change, but simply that L. 
dilatata throve and multiplied itself by spores and otherwise, 
while L. cemula died out. 

Editor. 


FERN "SEEDS." 

As in some of the reviews of my book, "British Ferns 
and their Varieties " (Routledge), my use of the word 
"seedlings" as representing Ferns raised from spores has 
been contested, as also my consideration of the incipient 
growth in the Fern pyothallus at the base of the avchegonium 
as the equivalent of a seed proper, I should like to explain 
the matter. In the first place I write for the layman and 


iS4 

not the scientific botanist, and therefore use as simple terms 
as possible ; and in the second place I am quite incapable, in 
view of the facts, of comprehending the objections. In 
both the flowering plant and the Fern prothallus we find a 
similar chain of cause and effect. In the flowering plant 
the future seed vessel contains at first unfertilized cells, from 
which part of the vital nucleus has been removed to make 
way for an independent part, subsequently provided from 
the equally diminished pollen or male cell. In the process 
of fertilization these two half nuclei are brought into con- 
junction and so form a perfect cell, which is then enabled 
to divide and multiply, forming in the process a perfect 
seed, which eventually reproduces the plant. The seed 
here is capable of detachment, and of being scattered 
abroad to propagate its kind. In the Fern the detachable 
propagating body, the spore, is an unfertilized cell protected 
by a coat or husk. By virtue of this unfertilized condition 
it is incapable (except under abnormal circumstances to 
which I will refer later) of direct reproduction, but when 
it finds suitable conditions where it becomes deposited, it 
produces a small flat green scale attached to the soil by 
roothairs, and on the underside of this there are generated 
two sets of organs, male and female [anther idia and 
archegonia). The male ones are tiny pimple-like bodies, and 
the female ones small elevated hollow teat-like bodies, at 
the base of each of which, embedded there in the thickened 
body of the scale, is a cell. This cell, like that of the 
embro seed, has only half a nucleus. When ripe the male 
bodies burst and emit a swarm of small swimming tadpole- 
like organisms, in the head of each of which is a similar cell 
also deprived of half its nucleus. We have here, to my 
mind, an exactly paralled case to that of the flower, since 
eventually the two half nuclei come together, the male 
germ travelling to and thus reaching the female one. This 
junction being effected the reproductive female cell is com- 
pleted, divides and redivides, produces a root and a frond 
with a basal bud, and thus reproduces the Fern precisely 


•85 

as does a seed proper. The main difference then is, that 
whereas a seed proper is provided with a store of nourish- 
ment to give the young plant a start in Hfe, the fern equiva- 
lent of a seed derives its primary nourishment from the 
scale or pYothallns, and hence does not become detached, the 
prothallus acting as fostering nurse until the young fern by 
means of its root system is fairly established, when the 
scale decays and dies. 

It is for these reasons that in my several works on 
British Ferns, and in many descriptive articles, I have 
always regarded the two kinds of organs under the Fern 
prothallus as the " homologues " or counterparts of pollen 
grains and ovaries in the flowering plants. They perform 
the same functions entirely, though in somewhat different 
fashions, and I cannot but regard it as " hair-splitting " to 
raise objections to the parallel, or, under such circum- 
stances, to find fault with the use of the word "seedlings," 
instead of " sporelings," in connection with young Ferns so 
raised. The abnormally produced Ferns mentioned above, 
and which may be regarded as true " sporelings" and not 
" seedlings," are those in which " apogamy " occurs. In 
these the prothallus is produced in the usual way, but 
instead of the young Fern being sexually produced, as 
above described, a bud appears, usually on the site of Lhe 
suppressed " archegonium," and thus develops directly into 
a Fern. Here of course there is no " seed " or its equivalent, 
and hence to such plants as are thus produced the term 
" seedling " is inapplicable, as is also that of " sporeling" 
in all cases of proliferous Ferns, which are propagated by 
buds formed on the fronds or elsewhere. 

Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


THE LADY FERN. 

Athyrium Filix Fcemina. 

The Lady Fern, like the male fern, was christened without 

any regard for sex, and simply on account of the relative 

delicacy or coarseness of make; but though modern 


i86 

scientific research has shown that in most ferns, as in most 
flowers, the two sexes exist, to which the so-called Lady 
Fern is no exception, the equally modern research of the 
fern hunter has proved that in diversity of costume and 
delicacy of taste, the lady-like element comes out very 
strongly indeed. No fern, in fact, in all the world has by 
virtue of its sportive character adopted so many fashions, 
beautiful or curious, as has the Lady Fern. Even with 
the common types, which we find in such profusion in 
ferny country places, in glens, damp woodlands, ditches, 
and indeed in most shady places in the vicinity of water, 
we often find it difficult to match exactly any two plants 
in detail of cutting, texture and habits. Like ladies of 
the human persuasion, each seems to have a taste of its 
own, and Dame Nature, sympathetically, has invested them 
with the faculty of indulging it in this way, though, as a 
rule, to a limited extent. Every now and again, however, 
for some reason best known to herself, she invents a new 
fashion entirely. How, we know not. All that we know, as 
fern hunters, is that some fine day, rambling through the 
Lady Fern's particular domain, we find some regal form 
enthroned in state amid her court of commoners, or, 
equally meritorious, but more modest, endeavouring to hide 
her unique charms behind her neighbour's flounces so to 
speak. To drop metaphor, it is a simple fact that while 
the Athyviiim ranks with the three or four of our native 
species which have given the bulk of varietal sports, it 
eclipses them all in examples of quite peculiar formation, 
to which no other fern has so far afforded parallels. 

Normally the Lady Fern, delicate as is its make, is a 
remarkably robust and sturdy fern, and under favourable 
circumstances, such as we find in a secluded glen or 
ravine, walled in by shading trees in such a way that the 
blustering breeze is entirely excluded, and traversed by a 
wild cascady stream which saturates at once both soil and 
air with congenial humidity, we may find huge feathery 
specimens shoulder high and a yard and more through. 


1 8; 

The freer the growth, as a rule, the more the fronds are cut 
into sub-divisions, this extending even to the third degree 
(tripinnate) under the conditions described. The fern is 
quite deciduous, the fronds dying to the ground in autumn, 
a fact which the amateur cultivator must bear in mind, as 
undoubtedly many deciduous plants perish by being 
assumed to die in the autumn instead of simply going to 
sleep, subsequent neglect in watering, confirming the 
wrong assumption. In cultivation ordinary garden soil 
does quite well, but a good leafy compost does better ; the 
chief thing is protection from drought. 

{To he contimied.) 


BLECHNUM SPICANT VAR. CONCINNUM. 

In 1 88 1 I was fortunate enough to find a very beautiful 
form of Blechnum spicant on Exmoor, which was named by 
Mr. T. Moore " concinnum," or neat, and pronounced by 
him to be a new form, which has been confirmed since by 
every specialist. In this variety the normally long lance- 
shaped fronds, with smooth edged side divisions, is trans- 
formed into a long narrow even one of ribbon-like outline, 
but with round divisions, evenly serrated and resembling 
small scallop shells, the fronds being nine inches long by 
only a quarter an inch wide. Since that time, although a 
number of " strictum " varieties have been found, in which 
a similar narrow and serrate character is seen for some 
distance up from the frond base, it is succeeded by pinnae 
of the normal length, while Mr. Barnes' lineave, which is 
similarly narrow throughout, has the round or confluent 
division quite smooth edged. 

As wild finds rarely agree exactly in character, I was 
greatly interested recently on receiving among a number of 
other fronds for naming from Mr. W. A. Barker, Vale 
View, Backbarrow, Ulverstone, a long nine inch frond of 
B. s. concinnum, precisely similar to my own and marked 
•'wild find," and on enquiry I learn that this was found in 


i88 

July, 1909, by Mr. W. Lancaster, near Backbarrow, by 
Windermere Lake, in a coppice wood by the roadside, and. 
has therefore no connection at all with the original find. 

This discovery is the more interesting to me that B. s. 
concinnum constituted my first find of any value, and from 
it 1 caught that severe attack of " fern fever " with which I 
have been affected ever since and have, I have every reason 
to believe, conveyed the infection to many others, even by 
the insidious medium of books and correspondence. The 
plant was found at the very end of a thitherto fruitless 
fern hunt on Exmoor, in the little village of Simonsbath, 
a final and forlorn hope inducing a search in a stone dyke 
on its outskirts, the result being a glimpse of the extreme 
tip of a narrow frond peeping through a bunch of normals 
in a deep chink ; following this up, six perfect fronds were 
discovered all springing from one centre in the heart of the 
clump. A crow-bar gently lifted the rough stone covering 
the roots, the whole bunch was extracted intact, and the 
precious " find " carefully disentangled. It and its roots 
were then wrapped up in wet moss. The following year 
it throve and bore spores, and in another season or two 
several hundred typical plants found their way to all 
collections worthy the name. Our illustration represents 
Mr. Lancaster's find reduced from 9I inches, as indication 
of the character of the true concinnum- (page 174, Fig. 6). 

NEW FERNS. 
From Mr. Henry Bolton, of Warton, near Carnforth, we- 
have received fronds of a very beautiful form of Scolopen- 
drium crisptim raised by him, which we have named S. v. c. 
fimhyiatum Bolton. It is distinguished from all the other 
forms which we have seen of this section by having well 
crisped and fimbriate fronds, branching from the base into 
usually distinct and separately stalked fronds, each of 
which bears a well-developed terminal bunch crest. The 
plant is of fine erect habit and very robust. A decided 
acquisition. 


i89 

Mr. J. C. Rugman, Plusterwine, Woolaston, near Lydney, 
Glos., sends fronds of a very good wild find, about three 
years ago, of F. angtdave, which we have named F. a?ig. 
aciitilobiim Rugtnanni ; it belongs to the proliferum section. 


THE BENBOW HERBARIUM COLLECTION 

OF FERNS. 

We are indebted to our friend and member, Mr. C. B. 
Green, now of Linden Villa, Argyle Road, Swanage, 
whither he has retired to spend, we hope, many pleasant 
years, and find many good varieties of Ferns, for a very 
remarkable and unique discovery. Mr. Green has for a 
long period devoted himself not merely to Fern study and 
culture, as his recent article on " My Fernery " demon- 
strates, but also to the study and collection of the Middle- 
sex wild flora ; and in this connection some years back he 
met Mr. Benbow, of Uxbridge, who followed the same line 
but made no mention of Ferns at all. Mr. Benbow 
died some few years back, and left his herbarium to the 
nation, and Mr. Green learning that it was deposited in the 
Natural History Museum at South Kensington went there 
to inspect it in connection with the Middlesex flora, and to 
his extreme surprise discovered that it was accompanied 
by a collection of several Jmndveds of Fern fronds, repre- 
senting Mr. Benbow's personal finds in Devon, Dorset and 
elsewhere, mostly in the 'sixties. A large number of these, 
particularly of Polystichums, rank with the very finest 
forms yet discovered, and were accompanied by dates and 
localities and also notes, which, apart from distinctness of 
type, rank the finder as amongst the most fortunate, even 
when compared with such men as WoUaston, Moly, Wills 
and others of the early pioneers. Of this fact Mr. Benbow 
appears to have been fully cognizant, but he also appears 
to have been a very reticent and retiring man, which is 
evidenced by an autographic slip in the collection, that he 
desired to remain anonymous. To this unfortunate desire 


it is due, it would appear, that not only did his name remain 
absolutely unknown and unmentioned in all published 
Fern records (Dr. Stansfield even never heard of it), but 
even Mr. Lowe, with whom he corresponded and to whom 
he sent some of his finds, did not apparently see his way 
to include such finds in his Fern list of 1890 even 
anonymously. Neither did Mr. Barlow, as was the 
salutary custom of his Fern-loving contemporaries, 
distribute divisions among them and so secure, or assist 
in securing, their survival as well as appreciation and 
propagation, the unhappy result being that in all proba- 
bility the Herbarium in question is now the sole repre- 
sentative of his labours. Our members, Mr. W. B. Cran- 
field, Dr. Stansfield, and Mr. T. E. Henwood accompanied 
the writer and Mr. Green to the Museum, and were equally 
struck with what they found, while the waiter subsequently 
went there on several occasions and made a descriptive 
list of the choicest forms and of the attached notes, which 
appears m extenso in the Gavdenevs' Chronicle, and by kind 
permission is reproduced below. 

Enquiries have been made as to the possibility of some 
of these finds having survived in the late Mr. Benbow's 
garden or elsewhere at Uxbridge, but these so far have had 
a negative result, and although trial sowings are in progress 
of some of the spores, it is a very open question whether 
half a century is not too long a period for survival of 
vitality. Mr. Benbow, too, appears to have been extremely 
unfortunate, having left a number of finds in the train on 
his way to Mr. Sim's nursery at Foots Cray, while a fire 
destroyed many on another occasion. 

The following represent the best varieties of the several 
species concerned, in which the Polystichums are by far 
the most striking, and are therefore described more fully. 

THE SHIELD FERNS. 
PoLYSTiCHUM ANGULARE (about 150 Varieties in all). 
Deconiposituin spkndens, all fine decomposite forms, 


191 

found at Nether Stowey, October 21st, 1866; Seaton, 
May 25tb, 1865; Babbacombe, October 3rd, 1868; 
Teignmouth, October loth, 1868; Densum, very close set 
subimbricate pinnules, very fine, Lyme Regis, October 
1 2th, 1864. Lineare, very slender, central divisions thorn- 
like, several places in South Devon. Pferophomm, sub- 
imbricate pinnules, sessile. Foliosnui, handsome broad 
form, South Devon, October 3rd, 1868 ; Uplyme, October 
nth, 1864; Hayes, Middlesex, July 6th, 1866. Con- 
cinnum, very small pinnules, Ottery St. Mary, July 14th, 
1864. Hivondelle Barlow (D.), pinnule pairs, like swallow's 
wings, Teignmouth, October loth, 1868. Decttrvens 
flexiiosum, flexuose, with falcate, aculeatum-like pinnules, 
Honiton, July 19th, 1864. Distans, divisions widely 
separated, Uplyme, October nth, 1864. FUxtiosum, very 
sinuous fronds and pinnae, Honiton, July 19th, 1864. 
Revolvens (D.), several finds of this type described as 
recurved, Sidmouth and elsewhere. Oxyphyllnm, a good 
acutilobe, Colyton, May 25th, 1865. Angustatum pvo- 
lifevum {D.), near Charmouth, October 12th, 1864. 
Tvipinnatum, very fine forms found in several places. 
Acutilohum, Kingskerswell, October 3rd, 1868; near Ryde, 
July 27th, 1863. Acutilohum pvolifevum, bulbils from base 
to tip, Paignton, October 6th, i858 ; also Axminster and 
elsewhere. Angustatum, a remarkably narrow form 
a la A.f.f. Frizellice, Maidenscombe, October loth, 1868 ; 
Branscombe, May 25th, 1865; and Lyme Regis, October 
loth, 1864. Cvistatum, two forms crested, Langley, 
September, 1863; Honiton, October i8th, 1864. ^'^'^" 
spicuilobum (D.), Nether Stowey, October 21st, 1866. 
Pevcvistatum, crested pinnules, counterpart of Gray's, 
Somerset, June 7th, 1865. Brachiatum, broad-based form, 
Lyme Regis, October 15th, 1864. Brachiatum, trifonded, 
basal pair of pinnae transformed into fronds, like Keall's 
form. Capitatum, huge spherical comminuted head, 
pinnae plain. Acvocladon, very ramose and bunch crested, 
counterpart of Mapplebeck's form. (All three found in 


192 

one lane in Teignmouth, October loth, 1868. They 
differ much, but Dr. Stansfield thinks they may be 
seedling variants of the brachiate type, despite diversity.) 
Gvacile (D.), very slender, distant pinnules, Stoke-on- 
Teign, October loth, 1868. StipidaUmi (D.), very like 
Carbonell's form, Babbacombe, October 3rd, 1868. A 
considerable number of other finds were of the depauperate 
gvandidens type, or otherwise defective, and are mostly 
arranged as a separate set, presumably indicating 
inferiority. 

P. ACULEATUM. 

Bavlowii, a form very like P. a ptdcheyvimum, but very 
fertile, and with non-imbricate tips, Dartmouth, October 
8th, 1868. 

SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE. 

Of this species over one hundred specimems represent 
Mr. Benbow's finds ; the best are as follows, the names 
indicating the character, but the large majority are more 
or less defective forms of " marginatum " type, or other- 
wise of little interest : S. v. covmitum, Brixham, 1868, 
Kingskerswell, 1868; marginato-cornutum, Minehead, 1864; 
iacevato-covnuttim, Wilmington, 1865 ; voUindifolmm, several 
places; vamo-cvistatnin, several places; multifidum, Ilfra- 
combe, 1S64; gvandiceps {D.), two places; flahellatum {D.), 
Nettlecombe, 1864 ; coyymhifevum, Kingsbridge, 1865 ; 
lacevatum, Nether Stowey, 1866; ramosum, same wall; 
cvistatnm, two places; vamo-lobatum (D.), Littlehampton, 
1872 ; sagittatum, Dartmouth, 1868 ; cvispum, five types of 
this rare frilled and barren section were found at Little- 
hampton, 1872, Gettisham, 1864, Babbacombe, 1868, 
Charmouth, 1864, and near l^yde, 1863 ; digitatum, Berry 
Harbour, 1864; cristato-multijidufii, same place and time. 

^To be continued.') 


LIST OF NEW MEMBERS. 

Mr. A. B. Abbey, 325, Park St. West, Roxbury, Mass., U.S.A. 
Mr, R. L. Goulder, Woodcroft, near Chepstow. 
Mrs. H. K. Greene, " Grove," Craven Arms, Salop. 
Monsieur R. de Litardiere, 4, Rue Cloche Perse Poitiers (Vienne), 
France. 

Mr. J. O. McCleery, Ava House, Old Cavehill Road, Belfast. 
Mr. John E. Walpole, Highbury, Whitby, near Chester. 

•'British Ferns and Their Varieties," by Charles T. Druery, 

V.M.H., F.L.S., with forty magnificent coloured plates, 319 wood cuts 
and other illustrations, and 96 monochrome reprints of a selection of 
the choicest varieties, nature printed, by the late Col. A. M. Jones of 
Clifton, with his original notes in cxtenso. In cloth ys. 6d. net; in half 
morocco, gilt, los. 6d. net. 

It will interest the members to know that by the enterprise of 
Messrs. George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., the author has been enabled 
to realize one of the pet ambitions of his life, viz. the production, on 
practically untrammelled lines, of a thoroughly up-to-date and well 
illustrated record of our native ferns in their specific and varietal 
forms, together with such information as to their history, culture and 
biological peculiarities as will render the work a thorough compendium 
of knowledge for the amateur's reference plus indications of sources 
of knowledge valuable to those who take an interest on the scientific 
side. The addition of an appendix consisting of ninety-six of the 
choicest of the late Colonel Jones' nature prints, accompanied by his 
contemporary notes, which the author has been kindly permitted by 
Miss Jones to use as a supplement, renders this book an absolutely 
unique one, apart from its comprehensive and practical character in 
other directions. Certainly no British Fern lover or Botanical Library 
should be without it as the standard work on the subject, and it would 
be an advantage to the author {the Editor of the Gazette and Secretary of the 
British Pteridological Society) if orders for it were sent to him personally to 
II, Shaa Road Acton W. 


ifaMnadKa 


FERNS. 


* * * 

H. B. MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sizes, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

* * * 

stove, 6rcciil)0U$c, and oibcr Planis 
. . .arc also larscly arown. . . . 

* * * 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants can be had post free 
apon application to— 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDMONTON. 


VOL. 1. No. 9. 


. . . Zbc . . . 


©asette. 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


September, lOlL 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., FX.S. 


PUBLISHED BY 


I 


THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Hon. Secretary, C. T. Druery, ii, Shaa Rd., Acton, Lcndon, W.), 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


^^1 


The Hartstongue. 


THE 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 


Vol. I. 


SEPTEMBER, igii. 


No. 9. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Editorial Notes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 193 

Our Frontispiece (The Hartstongue) .. .. .. .. 194 

The August Meeting .. .. .. .. .. .. 195 

The Lady Fern {contimied) .. .. .. .. .. 199 

The Benbow Herbarium Collection of Ferns {continued) 201 

Fern Spore Sowing .. .. .. .. .. .. 202 

A Fern Paradise .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 205 

Erratic Fern Spores .. .. .. .. .. .. 207 

A Note on Pteris aquilina cristata.. .. .. .. 210 

Spleenwort Culture .. .. .. .. .. .. 211 

Fern Hunting .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 213 

Supplement — 

Reports and Records, 1894 — 1905 .. .. .. 217 

Contents of "Gazette," Nos. i to 8 . . .. .. 219 

List of Members .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 221 


EDITORIAL NOTES. 

This number forms the commencement of the third 
annual series of the " Gazette," and, as will be seen by the 
contained Report of the Annual Meeting at Barnstaple, 
not only has the membership of the Society been largely 
increased by its issue, but this has been effected with benefit 
to its funds. We may therefore safely regard it now as an 
assured success. That no effort on our part will be spared 
to maintain its interest may be taken for granted, but we 
would strongly impress upon our fern-loving friends our 
wish for support in the direction of new members, since 
we are quite sure that every one of our present ones could 
at least enlist another, and this alone would put us in 
a position to enlarge the "Gazette" and increase its 
attractions, both literary and pictorial, for the benefit of all 


194 

concerned. We also sorely lack support of another kind^ 
viz. in the shape of contributions of notes and experiences 
of our members, so that we may spare our readers a possible 
overdose of the C.T.D. element, which naturally embraces- 
the experiences of only one individual, while it is abundantly 
obvious from our face to face conversations with other 
members at our meetings that their experiences are equally 
valuable and worthy of record. First, then, please bombard, 
your fern-loving friends and acquaintances, show them the- 
"Gazette," tell them of the society, give us "the tip" if 
necessary, and in this manner help us in one way, while not. 
omitting to send us a note of anything striking which may 
turn up within your ken for publication. In this number 
we give a supplement embracing the names and addresses- 
of the members for reference and some other particulars 
of interest to new ones to which we draw special attention. 
Finally, kindly note that subscriptions for 1911-12 
are now due and should be remitted to the Editor, 11,, 
Shaa Road, Acton, London, W. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

The Hartstongue. 

Our frontispiece represents a selection of the most 
marked varieties of that wonderfully Protean Fern, the 
Hartstongue Scolopendvinm vulgare, which gives a good idea 
of the varied forms into which it has sported, mostly under 
purely wild conditions. Their names are as follows : — 

I. S. V. supralineatum (shewing approximately the 
normal outline). 

2, 

3- 


4 
5 
6 

7 
8 


,, ,, crispum sagittatum. 

,, ,, peraferens. 

,, ,, cristatum Millett. 

,, ,, laceratum. 

,, ,, ramo-cristatum Moly. 

,, ,, cristulatum (Stansfield). 

,, ,, spirale. 


9 

lO 

II 

12 

13 

14 

15 
16 


^95 

S. V. crispum fimbriatum. 
,, ,, crispum grande Wills. 
,, ,, capitatum. 

sagittate cristatum Hankey. 
,, projectum Sclater. 

capitatum Forsterii. 

grandiceps John Cousins. 

inequale furcans Elworthy. 


»5 )> 


THE AUGUST MEETING. 

The annual meeting of the members was held this year 
at Barnstaple to enable them to judge of the ferny possi- 
bilities of the Southern Counties of England, their visits 
hitherto having been confined to the Lake District or 
Scotland. Prior to the actual business meeting at the 
Golden Lion Hotel, at which Mr. Alex. Cowan as President 
took the chair, several informal ones were held on the 
previous days and a very large number of Fern fronds 
were exhibited by Mr. Cowan on behalf of himself and Mr. 
Phillips, these embracing a number of remarkably fine 
varieties, clearly evidencing immense progress in the 
development of superior forms by selection, and some new 
" finds " of great merit. The most noteworthy were a 
splendid form of Osiminda regalis juidiihita found by Mr.' 
Phillips, and far excelling in foliose character an otherwise 
similar variety of that name found many years ago in the 
Azores, Lastvea dilatata crispa ochracea, shown by Mr. 
Cowan, had beautifully crispate fronds, liberally and 
constantly splashed with golden yellow. A cross effected 
by Mr. Cowan betw^een presumably Polypodiiim vulgave var, 
€ornnhiense and P. v. grandiceps Fox or Foster has yielded 
a very fine "grandiceps" form of cornubiense cutting 
P. V. c. grandiceps Cowan. Another very fine variety was a 
subplumose form oiLastrea filix mas of a very promising type 
for cultural selection. Various excursions were made to 
Woody Bay, Hedensmouth, and other ferny districts in the 


196 

locality, but owing to the intense and long continued 
drought, hunting was severely handicapped, the ferns in 
many places being scorched and flaccid, and their growth so 
stunted as to mask their varietal character, if any, to an 
unrecognisable extent. Dr. Stansfield, however, found an 
Asp. ad. nigvitm with multifid frond tips throughout and some 
very foliose forms of L. moniana ; Mr. Druery, among other 
minor finds, discovered a Hartstongue on lobatum lines but 
with all frond terminals symmetrically rounded off with sori 
radiating round the abruptly shortened midrib like the 
figures on a clock dial, a rare variant which he named 
Scol. V. lohattun radiosorum. Mr. W. B. Cranfield was the 
most fortunate, alighting upon two remarkably fine varieties, 
one a wild deltoid foliose form of Lastvea filix vms with 
broad dilatata-like basal pinnae, and the other, on private 
ground, a peculiarly fine foliose and imbricate variety of 
P. aciileatum on truly handsome lines which had been found 
many years ago near Holsworthy. He also found a very 
marked form of Scol. v. undulatum. 

The weather throughout was most delightful and the 
meeting was a pronounced success in every way. Of the 
business meeting itself the following are the minutes : — 

Minutes of the 2oth Annual Meeting of the British 
Pteridological Society, held at the Golden Lion, Barn- 
staple, at g.30 a.m., on August 7th, 1911, with twelve 
members present as per signatures on opposite page, Mr. 
Alexander Cowan as President taking the chair. 

The Hon. Secretary, Mr. Chas. T. Druery, read the 
minutes of last meeting of 1910, which were confirmed on 
the motion of Dr. F. W. Stansfield, seconded by Mr. 
Eley, and signed by the President. 

Mr. W. B. Cranfield as Hon. Treasurer then produced the 
Balance Sheet as appended to these minutes, shewing an 
increase of £g 1 7s. 4d. in the Society's funds and duly audited 
by Mr. J.J. Smithies, and on the motion of Mr. Cowan, 
seconded by Mr. Bell, it was approved and accepted. 

The election of President and ofiicers for the ensuing year 


197 

was then effected, viz. Mr. Alexander Cowan as President 
being unanimously re-elected, as was Mr. W. B. Cranfield 
as Treasurer, Mr. Chas. T. Druery as Hon. Secretary, Mr. 
J. J. Smithies as Auditor, and the following Vice-Presidents, 
viz. Dr. F. W. Stansfield, C. T. Druery, J. J. Smithies, 
W. H. Phillips, and W. B. Boyd (Mr. R. W. Praeger 
was not re-elected he having resigned his membership). On 
the Committee were re-elected Messrs. T. Bolton, J. J. 
Smithies, R Whiteside, W. E. Farrer, G. Whitwell, and 
W. Wilson. Messrs. T. G. H. Eley and W. Bell were 
elected to fill vacancies caused by non-election, owing to 
residence abroad and resignations, of Messrs. Millward, 
J. M. Barnes and E. Wiper, it being understood that the 
President, Vice-Presidents, and officers were ex-offlcio 
members of the Committee. 

It was proposed by Dr. Stansfield, seconded by Mr. Cowan 
and carried unanimously, that the British Fern Gazette be 
continued under the Editorship of Mr. Chas. T. Druery. 

It was proposed by Mr. Cowan, and seconded by Mr. 
W. Gordon and unanimously agreed to that the Committee 
be asked to consider the advisability of allocating a sum 
not exceeding £^ for expenses of vehicles in connection 
with the Fern hunting excursions at the Annual Meetings 
and the provision of a room for such meetings. 

It was proposed by Mr. Cowan, seconded by Mr. Eley 
and carried unanimously that the Meeting in August, 1912, 
be held at Arnside, Mr. Eley kindly undertaking to 
assist in making the necessary arrangements. 

It was proposed by Dr. Stansfield, and seconded by Mr. 
Henwood, that the thirty-one new members who have 
joined since the last meeting and whose names and 
addresses appear on the page preceding the signatures of 
those present, be elected, which was carried unanimously. 

It was proposed by Dr. Stansfield and carried unani- 
mously that a very hearty vote of thanks be given to the 
President, Committee, Treasurer, Hon. Secretary and 
Auditor for their services to the Society, and to jNIr. Chas. 
T. Druery for his editorship of the British Fern Gazette. 


198 


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199 

LIST OF OFFICERS. 

President : Mr. A. Cowan, Penicuick, 

Vice-Presidents. 

Dr. F. W. Stansfield, Reading. Mr. J. J. Smithies, Kendal. 

Mr. C. T. Druery, Acton, London. Mr. W. H. Phillips, Belfast. 

Mr. W. B. Boyd, Melrose. 

Hon. Secretary : Mr. Chas. T. Druery, v.m.h,, f.l.s. 

Treasurer: Mr. W. B. Cranfield, Enfield Chase. 

Auditor : Mr. J. J. Smithies. 

Committee : 

Mr. T. Bolton, Warton. Mr. T. G. H. Eley, Furness Abbey. 
,, J. J. Smithies, Kendal. ,, W. Bell, Furness Abbey. 

,, R. Whiteside, Lancaster. ,, G. Whit well, Kendal. 

,, W. E. Farrer, Lancaster. ,, W. Wilson, Kendal. 

Together with the President and Vice-Presidents as members ex officio. 


THE LADY FERN {continued). 
The varieties of the Lady Fern, in the main, divide 
themselves into two classes, as in' other ferns, viz. the 
tasselled and the extra feathery ones, but added to these 
characters we have others forming the unique combina- 
tions we have referred to. The Victoria Lady Fern 
\(A.ff. Victovia) stands at the head of this section, and yet 
was found by the side of a country lane in Scotland in all 
its curious development. Incidentally we may mention 
here that fern varieties can be crossed together through 
their spores, in which way some curious combinations 
have, so to speak, been made by man, but this Victoria 
Lady Fern is no such product. Nature alone had a hand 
in it, and man moreover so far has failed to better it by 
selection. In this fern the fronds are very long and 
narrow, the pinnae or side divisions are also long and 
slender, and, like the frond tip, are divided at the end into 
slender many-stranded pendulous tassels. The marvel, 
however, comes in in the fact that these side divisions are not 
set on singly at nearly right angles to the stalk, as in most 
ferns, but are set on in pairs at right angles to each other, 
and as each pair has its fellow pair on the opposite side of 
the midrib, the two form a cross, and of course the two 


200 

rows from end to end of the frond form a delicate lattice 
work bearing two rows of charming tassels. Where, we 
ask, in all vegetative nature can be found a parallel to such 
a "sport " ? Finally, on close examination, it is seen that 
even the smaller sub-divisions are set on in pairs in like 
fashion, so that the pinnae are formed of tiny crosses too. 
The spores of this variety always yield typical plants, but 
we have never yet seen a seedling attain the full size of the 
parent, nearly four feet. 

Other peculiar types are the Frizelliae section, crested 
and uncrested, in which the side divisions are bunched up 
into round knobs, giving the fronds a resemblance to a 
string of beads. VevnonicB and conioides are examples of 
curious makes of the pinnae, which cannot be described but 
have no parallels. The crested or tasselled forms are 
many, varying considerably in make and habit and rang- 
ing from pretty little flat tassels up to ball-like dense ones, 
where the flat frond is maintained, or running into single 
balls of fine mossy looking growth, where the fronds 
branch over and over again to form that effect {A. jj. 
acvocladon and uncoglomevatum). The varieties, indeed, which 
are good are so numerous, that space precludes description, 
and we must refer to published catalogues. 

The plumose varieties are by many considered the finest, 
and in these the cutting is carried even to the fifth degree 
(quinquepinnate), imparting an extremely feathery appear- 
ance. The wild finds are Axminstevense, Hovsfall, Wills, 
Hodgsonae, Pounden and others, all quite distinct from each 
other. The Axminster, however, has proved the greatest 
prize, as a wild find, by yielding first plumosum elegans, 
a still finer cut form, and through this the really marvellous 
section of superbums, crested and uncrested, among which 
are the two absolutely finest Lady Ferns extant. A. ff. 
plumosum Dvuevy (uncrested) and A. ff. sup. pevcristatum 
(crested to the fourth degree), while at least a dozen other 
distinct crested and uncrested plumose forms are in the 
same section. These varieties by themselves would suffice 


20I 


to stamp the Lady Fern as standing alone among the 

varied ferns for versatility of taste and exquisite delicacy 

in expressing it. 

Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


THE BENBOW HERBARIUM COLLECTION 

OF FERNS {continued). 

POLYPODIUM VULGARE. 

Three very good forms were found, viz., onmilacevum 
cristatum, a very promising deeply serrate form with furcate 
pinnae, Holford, 1866 ; omnilaceriim, a thoroughbred deeper 
cut form, Cleve Abbey, on wall, 1864; and crenatiun, a 
deltoid form, near Fulmer, Bucks., 1892. 

Cystopteris fragilis. 
A good crested form was found on a wall near Totnes, 
which yielded fairly true progeny from its spores. 

Lastrea filex-mas. 
Three forms only worthy of note of this species were 
found. L. f.-in. brachlatum, a very marked variety, foliose 
and ramose, but not tasselled, Fulmer, 1866; ^^sevrata" 
(£).), a beautiful deeply serrate form with fringed pinnae, 
Axmouth, 1864 ; and polydactyla, strongly resembling 
Dadd's Ilfracombe form, Kingsbridge, 1865. 

It will be noted that no varieties of Athyvium filix foemina 
or Blechnuni spicant appear in this list, since though a 
considerable number of both figure in the Herbarium, the 
curious fact transpires on inspection that all of them were 
found either in Black Park, Bucks., or its vicinity, and in 
the case of the Lady Ferns, appear to be variable seedlings 
of the Craigii type, while the Blechnum are variants, 
sometimes very singular ones, of the *' strictum " type. 
The inevitable inference, therefore, is that Mr. Benbow 
here struck either upon a favourable locality in which 
spores of these forms had been previously scattered or had 
unwittingly raided a collection of planted out seedlings, no 


202 

less than sixty-eight crested Lady Ferns being gathered in 
a comparatively short time, plus the Blechnums. This 
being the case, we naturally refrain from ranking these as 
wild finds proper, but with regard to the others, the 
attached notes and particulars and general character of 
the fronds, put their value as such beyond all doubt. 

Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


FERN SPORE SOWING. 

As I have been asked to write with regard to the relative 
length of time required for the germination of fern spores, 
and the subsequent development of the fern from the 
prothallus, I may say that so much depends upon season, 
temperature, and treatment, that it is not easy to give 
definite data. One fact is certain, and that is that different 
species vary greatly in the relative rapidity or slowness of 
the process, as they do in the subsequent development into 
established specimen plants. Undoubtedly the best results 
are obtained when the spores are sown so soon as they are 
ripe, that is, about July with most of the species. By 
sowing freshly gathered spores of Hartstongues, Lady Ferns 
and Lastreas at that season, pvothalli are usually visible 
in two or three weeks, and the young plants may be visible 
in five or six weeks later, always provided that the culture 
be kept thoroughly moist, free from sunshine, but otherwise 
well exposed to light. Polystichums, however, are much 
slower in development, and spores sown in July, though 
they produce prothalH in the early autumn, may quite 
possibly refuse to produce plants until the next growing 
season. Osmuiida regalis spores must be gathered as soon as 
the fertile spores complete their growth, they are then quite 
green in colour, and if the brown stage, usually indicating 
ripeness, be waited for, all the capsules will be withered 
and the spores shed. Germination in this species is rapid, 
a week or ten days sufficing to show green pvothalli^ though 
of course it is some weeks later before these grow to full 
size, and effect their reproductive functions. 


203 

For the beginner, Lady Ferns, Hartstongues and Las- 
treas are the easiest to deal with, as is proved by the fact 
that under glass they appear in abundance as strays, i.e. 
self-sown plants, which is rarely the case with Shield Ferns. 
Polypodiuni vulgave varieties are very slow, and it requires 
several years to bring the young plants up to specimen 
size. Next to sowing immediately when ripe, that is in 
the middle of the growing season, collecting spores then 
and sowing them early the following Spring, say in March, 
has the advantage that if the summer-sown pvothalli do 
not make plants before the winter, there is a danger of 
confervoid growth invading them or sourness setting in 
during the resting season, from which Spring sown spores 
of course are exempt. If, however, a moderately warm 
house be available for winter accommodation, all the stages 
of growth are greatly accelerated and much time saved. 

The first essential in all cases is persistent moisture. 
The pots or pans containing the spores should be well 
drained and kept standing in saucers of water, and be covered 
with glass slips. As already stated in former articles, the 
soil should be of a leafy open character surfaced with a little 
loam in small lumps and pressed flat. Prior to sowing a 
piece of paper should be laid on this, and boiling water 
poured thereon until it runs out at the bottom scalding hot. 
This kills all worms, germs, and alien spores, and gives a 
fair field for the fern spores, which should be scattered very 
thinly and evenly over the soil when it has cooled. Cover 
with glass, make a registry of the sowing by means of a 
number, marked clearly on the pot or pan, or preferably on 
a small label, and put in a well-lighted position out of 
sunshme, standing them, as we have said, in saucers or 
bedding them in cocoa-nut fibre. As any small pot will 
accommodate quite a sufficient crop for any amateur, it is 
well to sow in thimble pots, a number of which can be 
compactly bedded in a nine-inch pan, and covered with one 
pane of glass. All that is then necessary is to see that the 
fibre is kept quite moist. Watering must be done from 


2 34 

below when necessary by plunging the pan up to its edge 
in water, until it appears glistening on the surface. Flood- 
ing the soil surface itself is detrimental, until it is covered 
with mature pvothalU when, if done with clean water, it may 
facilitate the fertilizing process. 

To return to our original point, viz. the time required for 
germination, it may perhaps be roughly put down at three 
weeks in the growing season, but the subsequent develop- 
ment depends largely upon the nature of the caudex which 
the Fern forms, and if this be large and fleshy in the full 
sized plant, it is probably a question of four or five years 
before the full character is brought out. When once, how- 
ever, a course of sowing has been begun, each season brings 
its own reward in turn, and many ferns when only a year 
old or even less are very beautiful, even though not of full 
size. Owing to the difference in the period of spore devel- 
opment, it is always advisable to sow each species and 
variety separately, unless crossing or hybridizing is intended, 
since otherwise the more rapid growers are bound to develop 
at the expense of the others. So soon as the young plants 
show, or sooner if the pvothalli are crowded owing to too 
liberal sowing, it is well to prepare pans, scalding them as 
indicated, and prick out little patches of pvothalli an inch 
apart, pressing them gently into the soil after inserting them 
into little depressions made to fit them. Each will then 
produce a little clump of plants which, when again crowded, 
can be lifted and dropped into a saucer of water. This 
will facilitate the separation of the plants, and particularly 
the roots, and enable them to be pricked out separately 
again an inch apart, when they will develop into a size for 
potting on. By this time their character will be evident, 
and any rogues or inferior forms should be thrown away or 
improvements marked for special care. 

C. T. U. 


205 

A FERN PARADISE. =^ 

While in Ireland during the end of June it was a real 
pleasure to re-visit Lemonfield, Holywood, on Belfast 
Lough, and shake hands with our octogenarian friend, Mr. 
W. H. Phillips, and see his unrivalled collection of hardy 
ferns, all British, with their many and variously tasseled 
sports, the more especially as the friend travelling with us 
was an expert, and knew the fern world from " A to Z." To 
go over a thousand or two in such congenial company was 
an educational treat, as well as a social delight, as Mr. 
Phillips describes each variety with first-hand knowledge, 
having found many of the rare sorts in his fern-hunting 
rambles ; and the fine personality of his accounts where 
this was got, or the happy accident that displayed another 
gem to his '' eagle eye," gave point and interest of a most 
characteristic nature. Readers of our paper have lately 
had the pleasure (which all fern lovers duly enjoyed) of his 
racy description of how he became a Fern hunter ; therefore 
they will understand how the more telling voice, with the 
very specimens before him, were striking texts from which 
to expatiate on their qualities, differences, developments, 
from common-looking forms to the crested, feathery beauty 
they now displayed. As it takes a real judge to select from 
a batch of foals one that has the making of a Cawdor Cup 
winner, so only a born fernist can see in the rather raw, 
half-developed seedling the future novelty, which all growers 
will desire. It is impossible to detail, even by name, a 
more than representative few of the innumerable Ferns at 
Lemonfield. Non-experts have no idea of the "sports," 
the "finds," of the last twenty years in British Ferns! 
Even in one or two classes, as Hartstongues, Athyriums, 
and Polystichums, the varieties are legion. The cult is 
very modern, but the enthusiasm of Fern lovers has been 
great, so that in fifty or sixty years the results are amazing. 
Mr. Phillips grows them in flat, sunshiny borders in 
ordinary garden soil, fortified with leaf mould, etc., as the 

^••By psrmission of The Scottish Ga-'d'-ner cvid Northern Forester. 


206 

subjects require. Think, for instance, of the drought of 
June, and yet that day of our visit he had transplanted a 
big bed of Ferns in full feather, and not one frond was 
harmed. Novices must observe times and seasons ; experts 
can do these things at all seasons. To give readers an 
idea of the riches in Ferns in one collection, we will name 
a few of each class, from which those seeking to add to 
their stocks may rely on them as good. The Polystichums 
are strongly represented, while P. angulavc fotundaUim and 
P. plumosiun cvistatum, ditto setosnm, and a fine cuneatum 
found by Mr. Phillips on Cavehill, across the Belfast 
Lough, give a personal touch to these beauties. We must 
not omit P. a. divisilohum densum, which was variegated, 
but that is gone. However, P. a. p. vohusUun has retained 
the golden colour. Lastrea dilatata, with a golden varie- 
gation, without doubt marks a new feature in Ferns. 
Polystichnm a. vetvofiexnin is a curiosity, as it looks as if all 
twisted up. Then P. a. divisilohum stipulatum is a queer 
thing, as the fronds look as if thatched with a secondary 
growth. We admire P. a. divisilohitm perserratum longipin- 
7iatnm. Phillip's Polystichnm plmnosissimum Stansficldii is 
another gem. The Athyriums are a great family, and we 
have worthy specimens, as A. filix fcemina acvocladon \o6ks 
like a moss, while another, A. f.f. pagoda, is called so, as 
the fronds curve up with fringes below, quite a remarkable 
specimen among even many very much so. The Poly- 
podies, as camhvictim, cormibiense, are most excellent Ferns, 
growing vigorously, too, in the open garden, with very little 
cover from overhanging trees. Comin^^ upon the Scolo- 
pendriums (Hartstongues), we are struck with a big bed of 
wondrous crested forms, some just like mosses, but the 
marvel is that the major portion of them are variegated. 
Even crispum is so, but capitatum is green. Now, some 
authorities will not admit that this variegation is fixed, but 
here we are assured of it, having ocular proof before us, 
while certain that the colouring has stood so for ten to 
twenty years. Truly the possibilities of new and beautiful 


207 

developments in Ferns are to be expected by and by, seeing 
that hitherto hunters have gathered in their natural habitats 
so many of the loveliest varieties we have, and these have 
given seedlings of astonishing forms. Therefore, when 
hybrids are raised from these variegated sorts, it is quite 
evident that the colouring will repeat in the youngsters, 
with even other characteristics we as yet wot not of. Ere 
we conclude our notes we have a look at the Osmunda rei^alis 
undulata, from the Azores, and O. v. intevnipta (Phillips), a 
pair of fine varieties, also a form of Osmunda widnlata found 
by Mr. Phillips near Recess, in Galway, similar to the 
Azores form, with vevolvens, and others equally curious. 
Near by we find Lastvea Padley's depaupevatuiHy as also Lastrea 
filix mas Bavnesii, a fine memento of a great Fern friend it 
is. Altogether we have but skimmed over the " ken- 
speckle " varieties, leaving unrecorded the countless regular 
forms and less notable ones, but time and tide, not to 
speak of dinner, wait not, so we bid Mr. Phillips adieu, 
having seen and enjoyed a Fern paradise such as we have 
not experienced before, and with a guide who combines the 
knowledge and the gift of imparting it in a high degree, not 
to speak of the geniality and enthusiasm he displays and 
provokes in others. 


ERRATIC FERN SPORES.* 

By the term " erratic " we mean in this case such spores 
from a constant parental form as will yield very diverse 
progeny, not merely on one occasion, but, as a rule, 
successive sowings from different annual crops yielding 
similar results. As is well known, when once the normal 
type of a plant has broken into an abnormal one, yielding 
a "sport," the seed or spore, as a rule, inherits the 
peculiarity ; but it is also a well-recognised fact by all 
selective cultivators that the peculiarity may appear in 
different grades in the progeny, being more emphasised in 
some and less in others, the more emphasised cases 
-'^ By permission of the Gardeners' Magazine. 


208 

constituting the selector's opportunities for improvement of 
type. In this way, sometimes by gradual steps and in 
others by more advanced ones, the greater part of our 
horticultural wealth of flower and foliage has been 
acquired. 

In the cases, however, which we have in mind, the 
spores concerned have yielded such entirely unexpected 
results that the cultivator has been unable to satisfy him- 
self of the origin of the plants obtained until a second 
sowing has convinced him by similar produce. Thus in the 
case of the Jones and Fox wonderful plumose Shield ferns, 
spores were sown from a wild decomposite or merely 
tripinnate form, the result being a batch of such finely 
dissected and feathery varieties, so widely ditfering from 
the parent that their origin seemed an entire mystery, 
until a second sowing from the same plant revealed the 
fact that its spores were endowed with the capacity of 
surpassing it to that extent, a similar lot arising. 

These, however, resembled each other closely, varying 
only in fineness of cutting or density of foliage. Another 
form, however, known as Pearson's decompositum, while 
producing also a beautiful plumose form far surpassing it 
in delicacy and foliose character [Polystichum angulave 
divisilohum plumosns Pearson) regularly produces, in con- 
junction with a percentage of this plumosum and a number 
of the parental form, a very remarkable and distinct form 
of " grandidens," w^hich no one ignorant of its origin could 
possibly impute to such a parent. In this the fronds are 
narrow, the pinnae being short and somewhat irregular, 
while the pinnules, instead of being extra feathery, are all 
reduced to short pointed spikes, so narrow that the 
abundant fructification shows on the upper side of the 
frond. A greater contrast could not be imagined than there 
is between this and plumosum, and yet both forms arise 
from spores from one and the same frond or even pinnae. 

Here it will be observed a character comes into evidence 
of which there is absolutely no trace visible in the parent, 


209 

which is in itself a thoroughbred constant form, with no 
eccentricities at all to which such results could be imputed 
by inheritance. Yet by repeated sowings it has been 
proved that the three forins — the parental, the plumose and 
the " grandidens " type — arise in more or less the same 
proportions whenever the decompositum spores are sown. 
Ptevis aquilina pevcvistata is another fern which constantly 
produces two different varieties when sown — viz., the 
parental form quite truly, and a large percentage of 
" grandiceps," a quite barren variety, with the fronds con- 
sisting entirely of stalks and heavy crests, these also being 
quite alike. This being barren, it can only be propagated 
by sowing spores of the parental form when it is quite sure 
to appear again. 

The superbum section of Lady Ferns arose first from a 
beautifully crested seedling raised from an entirely un- 
crested form (Athyviuin filix foemina elegans Pavsons) raised 
from an equally uncrested wild find [A. f.f. plumostim 
Axiiiinstev). In this case the extraordinary feature was 
that over go per cent, of the same batch were crested also, 
only two of the parental form resulting, while most of 
them were more or less defective, only two being perfect, 
though no defects are visible in either parent or grand- 
parent. Spores of the better of these tw^o (superbum) 
being sown, the next unexpected result was the appearance 
of two distinct sections, one uncrested and extra plumose, 
and one crested on varied lines, some to the fourth degree 
[percvistatum). Here again was a sudden divergence of 
type in two distinct directions in spores gathered from one 
and the same plant. 

In the more recent case of Polystichiun aculcatum 
piilchevviimim a similar divergence took place, some 20 
per cent, of the plants assuming a quite distinct type, 
" gracillimum," in which half-inch pinnules \vere lengthened 
to two to three inches, quite transforming the plant, while 
one plant assumed a decomposite plumose form of quite 
distinct character, rivalling those of the Jones and Fox 


2 I O 

angulares. A subsequent sowing from another plant (of 
which the first was, however, a division) is now yielding 
the same results, so far as the gracillimum type is in 
evidence, though the possibility of further divergencies is 
evidenced by a very promising diversity in other directions 
in the young seedlings. 

In Blechnuui spicant, a long narrow variety [stvictum 
Ha"tley) has in successive sowings yielded a percentage of 
a very dwarf congested variety (cvispissimnm Hartley)^ quite 
the antithesis of the parental form. Doubtless if fuller 
records had been kept regarding the origin of new forms, 
other cases could be cited ; but there is no doubt that the 
above embrace the most remarkable. It will be noted 
that in every case Nature has started the ball rolling by 
providing an abnormal sport. Most of the types in 
cultivation are due to such, though the selective cultivator 
may have enhanced the original types through their spores. 
The plumose types, however beautiful, are extensions of 
Nature's " decomposite " inventions ; but so far, with the 
exception perhaps of the mysterious A. f.j. Kalothvix, we 
must credit the selective cultivator with the gracillimum 
type of Shield ferns which are here described. 

Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


A NOTE ON PTERIS AQUILINA CRISTATA. 

I have been commanded by the Editor to send in a note 
on my plant of crested bracken, which he pronounces to be 
a thoroughbred. Its main interest appears to be its 
independent origin. It arose, in my greenhouse, on some 
peat, of which I had brought a little from Woodham 
Walter Common, near Maldon, in Essex. This is a patch 
of undulating land covered with oak coppice, occasional 
birch and holly trees, and an abundance of ling and bracken. 
On the Common itself I have never found anything more 
than the merest bifid tips to the bracken. Mr. Druery 
naturally raised the question of a chance spore getting on 


2 I I 

the peat from a possible *^cvistata'' in my possession, or 
in my neighbourhood. I think I am able to prove con- 
clusively my non-complicity in the " design " on the 
unadorned simplicity of P. aquilina. At the time my 
seedling appeared in the greenhouse, some five years ago, 
I had not a single plant of varietal bracken in my possession, 
nor am I aware of any in neighbouring gardens. The 
nearest place I know, also, as a local haunt of the wild 
P. aquilina is some miles away from my garden. 
Personally, I feel convinced that this is another instance 
of a big jump in varietal character from a practically 
normal stock. My patch of this plant has produced spores 
freely for some years now, so I have been enabled to raise 
seedlings. Amongst them, the *' gnmdiceps " type forms 
a small percentage. The latest raised plants also shew a 
tendency towards ramose fronds, so I am hopeful of 
obtaining from this stock counterparts of most of the 
crested forms already known to us, 

Fras. W. Thorrington. 


SPLEENWORT CULTURE. 

The successful cultivation of the British Spleenworts 
under glass presents difficulties which are not experienced 
with most of the other genera, and a few words, therefore, 
on a chance discovered method by the writer may be 
welcome. Some years ago, after a visit to my collection by 
some friends who evidently did not grip the fact that 
variation was an essential therein, one of them sent me from 
Scotland a bunch of quite normal Asp. tvichomanes. On 
receipt I was somewhat in a quandary, as I did not want 
them and did not like to throw them away. They came 
in a bundle tied up with the roots in moss, and having a 
tumbler handy I crammed them into the tumbler, moss 
and all, so that some of the loose moss just reached the 
bottom. Naturally, I watered the moss, and a little water 
percolated through and remained at the bottom of the 


212 

tumbler, which was stood out of the way on a shelf. Much 
to my surprise, growth commenced and proceeded rapidly, 
and now, two years later, there is a strong healthy growth ; 
quite a pretty specimen. Regarding this as a wrinkle 
worth following up, last year, when I received a somewhat 
curious form of the species from one of our members in 
the shape of a small, and by no means strong plant, I 
resolved to test both the plant and the new system. I 
therefore installed it with a little soil in the middle of some 
moss, and crammed the mass into another tumbler in the 
same w^ay. It immediately started healthily, and at the 
present moment is a beautiful strong specimen, showing 
very peculiar characters of subimbrication and partial 
subdivision on quite distinct and interesting lines. 
Encouraged by this, I treated an almost moribund plant 
of Ap. fontanum in the same way, and this, to my delight, 
is recovering rapidly, while a seedling Asp. lanccolatum 
transferred when at the point of death, crammed into the 
moss at the edge of the tumbler, but just in contact with 
the thimble pot-full of soil in which the fontamim was 
installed, lias sent up two or three fronds on the healthiest 
possible lines. By this system it is clear that the living moss 
induces a circulation of moisture and permits an aeration 
of the soil which is very congenial to such species as those 
concerned. The moss, be it noted, does not fill the 
tumbler, about an inch is left at the bottom, where a little 
water remains to be drawn upon as required by the little 
wisps of moss which reach it. Now and again, when this 
water disappears, the tumbler is immersed in water to the 
edge until it is full, it is then reversed and the water run 
out, until only a little is left as before. On one occasion 
the normal specimen originally installed was forgotten for 
so long, that all the fronds, old and new, were curled up and 
withered, as occurs on its native walls during a long drought. 
A few hours entire immersion under water, however, restored 
it completely, precisely as would be the case when soaking 
rain succeeds a drought. This method involves a minimum 


213 

of trouble, watering is only required at long intervals, the 
tumblers can be kept clean outside and with the growing 
moss inside and the pretty ferns surrounding them look far 
better than pots. We strongly recommend further 
experiments in this direction to our members, especially 
with Cetevach, which remains yet to be experimented upon, 
and is a by no means easy subject to deal with. 

C. T. D. 

FERN HUNTING. 
During the holiday season a great number of visitors to 
the country amuse themselves by collecting ferns, and on 
their return to town we may see on the railway termini 
the primary results of their quest in the shape of baskets, 
hampers and bundles of ferns mingled with their luggage, 
indicating a taste for the natural beauty and grace of these 
pretty plants. Looking, however, backwards and forwards 
from this particular point of view, we shall become aware 
of two very serious drawbacks to the true fern lover's 
appreciation of such popular Fern hunting. In the first 
place, if we examine the ferny sources whence these 
plants have been derived, we shall frequently find them 
ravaged and despoiled, and it may be even entirely denuded 
by remorseless and repeated raids. Too often we may find 
abundant evidence that the plants have been rooted up at 
one place only to be thrown away at another, when 
through utter lack of care they have become wilted and 
unsightly, while invariably at places of popular resort, even 
in our ferniest counties, we must travel far afield to find the 
ferns in anything like their natural robustness and beauty. 
So much for the backward aspect of these Fern hunting 
expeditions, which embraces, as we see, a very large 
admixture of that vandalism which is gradually denuding 
the country of many of its rarest and most precious native 
plants. As regards the forward view, i.e. the fate of such ac- 
quisitions, were it the case that the ferns thus removed were 
carefully and appreciatively tended when they reach their 


2 14 

destinations in town gardens, so that eventually they 
displayed their beauties there to the best effect the environ- 
ment permitted, we would say nothing against their 
collection, but it is safe to assert that not one in a thousand 
has such an opportunity, and that the vast majority perish 
entirely for lack of attention or care in planting. The 
" tripper " fern hunter unfortunately is not the only sinner ; 
there is the resident village collector, who advertises in the 
horticultural press and raids the seedlings for a mile 
or so around to supply the demand induced by cheapness 
and the beauty of the plants ; and there is the wholesale 
vandal, who raids the district with a horse and cart and 
sacks galore and supplies the market dealers by the 
thousand, leaving desolation in his track. Happily, of late 
years, the law has stepped in to emphasise the property 
rights in these plants and to punish those who steal them 
in the several ways indicated, a measure which has had 
marked results in many ferny localities. 

The curious fact, however, in this connection is, that 
from the true fern connoisseur's point of view the great 
bulk of this so-called fern hunting is energy entirely 
misplaced. Not one in ten thousand of the so-called fern 
hunters knows what he or she should really look for, and is 
aware that here and there where ferns grow freely there 
are scattered among the common or weed forms others 
which are quite distinct and very much more beautiful or 
curious. These are of the same species as their fellows, but 
Nature in some occult way has not only shaped them 
diff^erently both generally and in detail, but in most cases 
has stamped this diff"erence so deeply in their constitutions 
that they reproduce themselves truly from their spores, or 
if they vary, do so in such a way that much improved forms 
can be obtained by selection. The result of this capacity 
to sport is marvellous. A complete collection of varieties 
of over forty odd species of British Ferns would consist of 
at least two thousand distinct ones, of which the majority 
have been found wild in our hedgebanks, glens and ferny 


215 

woods, or on our wild moorlands and hillsides, from Land's 
End to John o'Groats, and in the sister and Channel Islands. 
Naturally these wild sports are not so common that a 
merely superficial search will mean a good " bag ; " it is, on 
the contrary a case of one in many thousands, so that the 
connoisseur fern hunter is glad if a day's or even a week's 
hunt results in a single really good thing, although as a 
matter of fact the writer has rarely devoted a day to careful 
hunting without finding something distinct and worth taking 
home. Naturally such ** finds " present themselves in 
different guises, they may be mere seedlings in which it 
is only the experienced eye which can detect any promise, 
or they may be old-established plants. Two of the writer's 
best finds, for instance, consisted of a tiny plant an inch or 
two high, and a huge clump of thirty-three crowns, which 
required the assistance of two men to lift and a horse and 
cart to transport. As a general rule these " sports " are 
solitary, or, if there be more than one, the others are 
obviously the offspring either by offset or spore of the same 
progenitor. They may betray their presence boldly, or 
by the mere projection of part of a frond from a mass of 
common ones, or they may be entirely hidden and only 
discernable by pushing asunder the foliage of their com- 
panions. In any case, he or she \vho aspires to be a fern 
hunter of this class must be prepared to be patient and 
persistent, and be also thoroughly well acquainted with the 
common forms of the species, so that any difference may 
be noted. As a rule, the successful fern hunter commences 
by a more or less chance find, which appears to be essential 
to infuse the necessary faith in the existence and discover- 
ability of such sports into the beginner, but once this has 
happened the fern "fever" is caught and the student 
speedily becomes the enthusiast. The main point to bear 
in mind is that wherever ferns are growing there is a 
chance of a find, and some of our own finds have turned 
up where plants were few and far between. So much for 
the hunting. And now for a word or two on the quarry. It 


2 l6 

will be asked, How do these " sports " differ from the 
common ones ? This could only be answered clearly pictori- 
ally, for they differ in many ways. The more general 
form, i.e. the one into which most species have sported, is 
that of the tasselled or crested section. Normally fern 
fronds and their side divisions terminate in points, blunt 
or acute, as the case may be, but in a very large number 
of species "sports" have occurred in which these points 
are multiplied so as to form tassels, and as this capacity is 
usually inherited and often varies in extent in the offspring, 
selective cultivation has given us some very beautiful forms 
indeed, derived in every case, however, from a wild sport to 
begin with. It is, indeed, one of the peculiar features of the 
Fern hunting we are considering that we are indebted to 
Nature for nearly all the types of variation, the original 
designs, so to speak, and all we can do when we find 
marked forms is to sow them and select those which show 
this form on still more marked lines, and so improve it. 
Another type or class of " sports " consists of abnormally 
divided Ferns. The common Polypody of the hedgebanks 
and old wall tops, for instance, is only once divided, each 
frond being like two bluntly-toothed combs set back to 
back, but quite a number of varieties have been found wild 
in which the teeth of these combs are themselves toothed, 
or even divided and redivided so as to lose all resemblance 
to the common type, while being much more beautiful. 
Ferns also sport in many other ways, in shape of sub- 
divisions as well as number, in habit of growth, and also 
in size, some being tiny dwarfs, little gems of compact 
verdure, while others are extra robust, so that with all this 
diversity of size and make it is obvious that it is nothing 
less than absurd to fill rockeries with some three or four 
species, all normal and all alike, and dignify them with the 
name of Ferneries, as is so often done. Our point, however, 
is that wherever ferns grow wild it is well worth while to 
carefully examine them individually as far as possible on 
the chance of coming across one of these " sports." They 


217 

are by no means so rare as to render the search all but 
hopeless, and when found, even if they only be curious 
instead of high-class thoroughbreds, they form souvenirs, 
while if they be new, the gratification is, of course, 
infinitely greater. In any case one thing is certain, and 
that is, that once a decent ''find" has been secured, the 
finder will never dream thereafter of carrying home a 
bundle of common ferns indiscriminately collected, but 
will leave these religiously alone, as Nature's raw material, 
for the '' prizes " he has now learnt to look for, and conse- 
quently there is one Vandal the less. 

Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., F.L.S. 


SUPPLEMENT. 


For the guidance of new members we would call their 
attention to the following reports and records of interesting 
papers read at the Society's meetings prior to the 
institution of the British Fern Gazette. These can be supplied 
at 6d. per number, or the set of eleven for 4s. These 
would make an instructive volume. We append thereto 
the "Contents" of the eight numbers of the Gazette 
preceding the present issue. These also are available 
(but to members only) at same price, viz. 6d. each or 3s. 
the set of eight. Orders and remittances should be sent to 
Editor. 

REPORTS AND RECORDS, 1894— 1905. 

1894 and 1895. " Selective Culture." By C. T. Druery, 

V.M.H., F.L.S. 
** Some Results of Fern-Hunting in Ireland." By 

W. H. Phillips. 
" Notes on some Irish Finds." By R. Lloyd 

Praeger, B.E., B.A. 
" Fern Reproduction." By C. T. Druery. 


2l8 

1896. " The Marvellous Side of Fern Life." By C. T. 

Druery. 
" Weissmann's Theory of Heredity and its Relation 
to Fern Life." By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 

1897. "The Ferns of the Diamond Jubilee." By C. T. 

Druery. 
" Fifty Years' Varietal Development in British Ferns." 
By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 

1898. " Ferns as Pet Plants." By C. T. Druery. 

" Fern Growing in the Towns." By W. H. xVtkinson. 
" Polystichum angulave pvolifevum — Past, Present and 
Future." By W. H. Phillips. 

1899. " Own Finds and Specialities of British Ferns." 

By C. T. Druery. 
*' Lastrea filix mas, its Past and Present Divisions." 
By W. H. Phillips. 

1900. ^' The Growth of a Hobby." By C. T. Druery. 

" My own Finds of British Fern Varieties in the 
Lake District." By G. Whitwell. 

1901. " The Culture of some Difficult British Ferns." By 

Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 
" Scolopcndvium vulgare, its Varieties and Culture." By 
C. B. Green. 

1902. *' The Lady Fern " [Athyvium filix fcemina). By 

C. T. Druery. 
" A List of Finds by Various Members." 

1903. " The Study of the Abnormal." By Dr. F. W. 

Stansfield. 
" Varietal Types of British Ferns." By C. T. Druery. 
" The Propagation of Varieties of Lastrea montana.*' 

By C. T. Druery. 

1904. "The British Polypodies.'' By C. T. Druery. 

1905. " Some Personal Reminiscences during Fifty Years 

of Fern Hunting and Cultivation." By \V. H. 
Phillips. 
*' Correlation of Characters in British Fern Varieties." 
By Dr. F. W. Stansfield. 


2 19 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 
Contents Nos. i to 8. 


Vol. I. SEPTEMBER, igog. 

XT I c^ldLf" •• •• •« •• «« •• •< 

Our Frontispiece (P. acul. gracillimum cristulatum) 

Our Native Ferns . . 

The Life History of a Fern 

Fern Hunting Episodes .. 

Wild Sports in British Ferns 

Personal Fern Finds 


Vol. I. DECEMBER, 1909. 

Editorial Note 

Our Frontispiece (L. montana plumosa Stansfieldj. . 
Spore Propagation 

Personal Finds— Mr. G. Whitwell's 

Polypodium Vulgare 

Polystichum Aculeatum and Angulare — Dr. F. W. Stansfield 

Fern Hunting in Winter . . 

The Hybridization of Ferns 

Pioneers of the Fern Cult— Dr. F. W. Stansfield 


Vol. I. MARCH, 1910. 

Editorial Note 

Our Frontispiece (P. acul. pulch. plumosum Green) 
The King of the Male Ferns 
The Naming of Fern Varieties . . 

Fern Curios 

The Decorative Value of our Native Ferns 

Some Ancient Uses and Beliefs in Ferns 

The Jones and Fox Collection in the Clifton Zoological 

vjra.TQ6riS »• .. •• •• •• •, 

Spring Treatment of Hardy Ferns 


Vol. I. JUNE, 1910. 

Editoral Note 

The August Meeting 

Our Frontispiece (Asp. t. inciso-congestum Clementii) 

Plumose Variation in Ferns 

Cystopteris Fragilis Sempervirens 

Raising Lastrea Montana from Spores 

Seed Bearers and Spore Bearers .. 


No. I. 
Page I 

3 

5 

8 

1 1 
18 


No. 2. 

Page 25 
26 
26 
29 

34 
38 
40 

41 

43 

No. 3. 

Page 49 
50 
50 

.54 
.5G 
60 
64 

65 

70 

No. 4. 

Page 73 
74 
75 
76 

79 
80 

S3 


220 


The Late Mr. James Moly 

Apospory . . 

The Decorative Value of Our Native Ferns 

The Book of British Ferns 

List of Members .. 


No. 2 


Vol. I. SEPTEMBER, 1910. 

Editorial Note 

The August Meeting (Report and Balance Sheet, etc.) 

Our Frontispiece (Lady Ferns) . . 

The Decorative Value of our Native Ferns. No. 3 {concluded) 

The Common Bracken (Pteris Aquilina) 

Cresting in Ferns . . 

Fern Wonders 

Variegated Hartstongues 

Effect of Environment on Variation . . 

Polystichum Aculeatum '■ Gracillimum " 

New Ferns . . 

List of New Members . . 


Vol. I. DECEMBER, 1910. 

Editorial Notes 
Our Frontispiece (Mr. C. B. Green's Fernery) 

" My Fernery," by Mr. C. B. Green 

British Ferns of the Future 

British Ferns in Gloucestershire, by Rev. E. H. Hawkins 

A Successful Spore Sowing 

The Pedigree of A.f.f. Kalothrix, by Dr. F. W. Stansfield 

New Ferns . . 

List of New Members 

" British Ferns and their Varieties " . . 


Page 86 
87 
91 
94 
94 


No. 5. 

Page 97 
100 
103 

105 
107 

no 

113 
114 
117 
119 
119 
120 

No. 6. 

Page 121 
122 
123 
126 
129 
133 

137 
141 

144 

144 


Vol. I. MARCH, 1911. 

Editorial Notes 

Our Frontispiece (Polypodium vulgare) 

Spring Treatment of Hardy Ferns 

" My Fernery," by Mr. C. B. Green (continued) 

Mysterious Ferns, by Charles T. Druery 

An Aposporous Polystichum, by Dr. F. W. Stansfield 

Variegated Hartstongues, by J. W. Tucker .. 

Some Adventures of a Novice, by F, W. Thorrington 

Our Wonderful Native Ferns, by Charles T, Druery 

List of New Members 

New Ferns . . 


No. 7. 

Page 145 

146 

147 

147 

154 
158 

160 

161 

166 

Inside Covey 


2 2 I 

Vol. I. JUNE, 1911. No. 8. 

Editorial Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 169 

Our Frontispiece (P. vulgare omnilacerum) .. .. .. 170 

The August Meeting .. .. .. .. .. .. 171 

Fern Pockets and other Contrivances (z7/i<s/;'a/i?i) ,, ,. 173 

Our Wonderful Native Ferns, by Charles T. Druery {continued) 176 

The Transmutation (?) of Lastrea ^Emula . . . . . . 179 

Fern " Seeds " .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 183 

The Lady Fern (Athyrium filix foemina) . . . . . . 185 

Blechnum spicant var. concinnum .. .. .. .. 187 

New Ferns.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 188 

The Benbow Herbarium Collection of Ferns .. .. 189 

New Members . . . . . . . . . . . , Inside Cover 

*' British Ferns and their Varieties " .. .. .. 


LIST OF MEMBERS. 

(With Addresses.) 

Askew, W. F., Junior, Fern Nursery, Grange, Keswick. 
AUchin, F. A., Tredadwell, Fowey, Cornwall. 
Aiken, Rev. J. J. M. L., Manse of Ayton, Berwickshire. 
Adkin, F. N., Westwood, Oaklands Road, Bromley, Kent. 
Apperly, Sir Alfred, Rodborough Court, Stroud, Glos. 
Abbey, A. B., 325, Park Street, West Roxbury, Mass., U.S.A. 

Boyd, W. B., Faldonside, Melrose. 

Bolton, T., Fern Cottage, Warton, Carnforth. 

Bolton, R., Holly Bank, Warton, Carnforth. 

Brown, J., 86, Castle Street, Forfar. 

Bickham, Spencer H., f.l.s., Underdown, Ledbury. 

Bunyard, G., v.m.h., Maidstone. 

Buchan-Hepburn, Sir A., Bart., Smeaton Hepburn, Prestonkirk, East 

Lothian. 
Bowles, E., Waltham Cross. 
Bell, W., Maryville, Croslands, Furness Abbey. 
Bolton, H., Yew Cottage, Warton, Carnforth. 
Brown, T,, j.p., lona, Antrim Road, Belfast. 
Barrel, M. B., 10, Avenue d'lena, Paris. 
Broadbent, J., Thornlee Fern Nursery, Grotton, Oldham. 
Ballantine, H., 5, Heath Bank Road, Birkenhead. 
Barker, W. B., Vale View, Backbarrow, near Ulverston. 

Cowan, Alexander [President), Valleyfield House, Penicuik, Mid- 
lothian. 
Cranfield, W. B. [Treasurer), East Lodge, Enfield Chase, Enfield. 


222 

Cordrey, C, 23, Morley Avenue, Upper Edmonton. 
Coverdale, W. H., Beechwood Scriven, Knaresborough. 
Campbell, A., 68, George Street, Bonhill, Dumbartonshire. 
Cousens, J. S., 12, Grove Road, Wanstead, Essex. 
Chapman, A., The Gardens, Westonbirt, Tetbury. 
Crisp, Sir Frank, Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames. 
Cutbush, Herbert J., Highgate Nurseries, N. 

Druery, C. T.,v.m.h., f.l.s. (Hon. Secretary), Stanwixbank, 11, Shaa 
Road, Acton. 

Day, Miss M. A.. Gray Herbarium of Harvard University, Cambridge, 

Mass., U.S.A. 
Davidson, J., Sommerville House, Dumfries. 
Dorington, Lady, Lypiatt Park, Stroud, Glos. 
Dowell, Philip (Editor, American Fern Journal), Port Richmond, N.Y., 

U.S.A. 

Eley, T. G. H., Croslands Park, Furness Abbey, Lanes. 

Edwards, J., Feme Deane, Oak Bank Avenue, Moston, Manchester. 

Edelsten, F. A., The Elms. Forty Hill. Enfield. 

Farrar, W. E., Oubeck. Galgate, Lancaster. 

Firth, O., Dean Head Sanitorium, Horsforth, Yorks. 

Frances, J., 3, Glan Aber Road, Chester. 

Eraser, G., Ucluelet, British Columbia. 

Fletcher, E., 38, Stanley Street, Heaton Park, Manchester. 

Gordon, W., Victoria Road, Maxwelltown, Dumfries. 
Green, C. B., Linden Villa, Argyle Road, Swanage. 
Goulder, R. L., Woodcroft, near Chepstow. 
Greene, Mrs. H. K., Gro\e Craven Arms, Salop. 

Heward, Miss M. E., Little Falcourt, near East Grinstead. 

Harris, G., Zoological Gardens, Clifton. 

Hawkins, Rev. E. H.. Holy Trinity Vicarage, Stroud. 

Hart, G., Woodside, Howth, Co. Dublin." 

Henwood, T. E., Auricula Villa, Hamilton Road. Reading. 

Hemming, G., The Palace, Alexandra Park, London. 

Hargreaves, A., 62, Wrigley Street, Oldham. 

Hawkins, Miss, Kingston-on-Soar, Derby. 

Horsford, Samuel R., Rose Bank, Magazine Road, Cork. 

Jacobs, Rev. J., Whitewell Rectory, Whitchurch, Salop. 
Johnston, G. Forbes, 163, Brook Street, Broughty Ferry, N.B. 

Kingscote, T., m.v.o.. Watermoor House, Cirencester, Glos. 

Lett, Rev. Canon H. W.,Aghaderg Rectory, Loughbrickland.Co.Down. 


2 2"* 

Lambert, J., 46, Dantzic Street, Manchester. 

Lawson, G. C, Mayfield House, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire. 

Litardiere, R. de., 4, Rue Cloche Perse, Poitiers (Vienne), France. 

Moore, Rev. H. Kingsmill, d.d., Cedar Mount, Dundrum, Dublin. 

Malcomson, G., Castle Place, Belfast. 

Marshall, W., v.m.h., Auchinraith, Bexley, Kent. 

Moore, Sir F. W., v.m.h., Glasnevin, Dublin. 

Murray, J. Campbell, j.p., Haggs Castle, Glasgow. 

Margery, Mrs., Cliff House, East Cliff, Bournemouth. 

Markendale, R. S., Ashfield House, Boston Spa, Yorks. 

McKendrick, J. G., m.d., ll.d., f.r.s., Maxieburn, Stonehaven, N.B. 

Meyer, C. J., Wellington Road, New Brighton, Cheshire. 

Marshall, H. C, 8, Crawfordburn Road, Bangor, Co. Down. 

Marling, S. S., Stanley Park, Stroud. 

Marsh, Miss S. A., Glenlyon, Holyrood, Co. Down. 

Milligan, R. M. (Nurseryman), Holyrood, Co. Down. 

]\Iorrison, W. T., 23, Gowrie Square, Bridgend, Perth. 

McCleery, J. O., Ava House, Old Cavehill Road, Belfast. 

Naylor, E., Heather Bank, Hazelhurst Road, Bradford. 
Nation, J. (Plumber), Bisley, Slough, Glos. 

Ormerod, G. F., Ashgrove, Elland, Brighouse. 
O'Brian, W., 4, Kildare Street, Dublin. 

Phillips, W. H., Lemonfield, Holy wood, Co. Down. 

Piatt, C, The Wildings, Warrington Road, Harrow, N. W. 

Parsons, J. S., 235, Cowbridge Road, Cardiff. 

Pickard, A., 2, Snow Hill View, Wakefield. 

Parker, J. B., 14, Adelaide Terrace, Waterloo, Liverpool. 

Perkins, ]\Irs. C. E., The Rectory, Hinton Parva, Swindon. 

Pritchard, ]\Irs., The Quarry, Colwall, Malvern. 

Perry, A., Hardy Plant Nursery, Enfield. 

Poole, Mrs. Batten, Road Manor, Bath. 

Peary, D., Island Cottage, Leatholm, Grosmont, S.O.; Yorks. 

Porter, W., Beech View, Balmoral Avenue, Belfast. 

Powell, Mrs. Stanley, Dorcas, Staplefield, Crawley, Sussex. 

Rogerson, Miss B. Stanley, Argaty, Downe, Perthshire, 
Read, R. L Gifford, i, Great Chapel Street, Westminster, 
Rugg, H. G., Dartmouth College Library, Hanover, New Hamp- 
shire, U.S.A. 

Raschen, H. H., 56, Liverpool Road, Birkdale, Southport. 
Relton, H. Underfell, Low Fell, near Gateshead. 
Rugman, J. C, Plusterwine, Woolaston. near Lydney, Glos. 
Railton, G. S., Senior Council School, Tewkesbury. 


224 

Smithies, J. J., Boundary Bank, Kendal. 

Stansfield, Dr. F. W., 120, Oxford Road, Reading. 

Smith, J. L., Fairbank, 286, Lytham Road, South Shore, Blackpool. 

Smith, T., Daisy Hill Nursery, Newry, Ireland. 

Scott, W., Dryden Bank, Loanhead, Midlothian. 

Sergeantson, Rev. W,, Acton Burwell, Shrewsbury. 

Sanderson, H.. Eastmount, Galashiels. 

Sweet, A., Braehead, Cathcart, Glasgow. 

Stansfield. H., Fern Nursery, Sale, Manchester. 

Silva, F., The Grove Lodge, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. 

Scott, W. D. T., Olympus Mine, West Nicholson, South Rhodesia, 
South Africa. 

Sonnenschein, W. S., High Morcote, Shalford, Surrey. 

Shaw, J. D., 23, Ulsterville Avenue, Belfast. 

Start, F., East Lodge Gardens, Enfield Chase. 

Salkeld, Mrs. Mary, Greengate, Levens, near Milnthorpe. 

Thorrington, F. W., Ferncote, Emerson Park, Hornchurch. 
Turner, J. H., Lynwood, Caversham, Reading. 
Thatcher, Mrs. E. J., The Manor House, Chew Magna, Somerset. 
Tucker, J. W., Ferncroft, Woodah Road, St. Thomas, Exeter. 

Wilson, William, 7, Ferney Green, Kendal. 

Wiper, J. {Hon. Mem.), Pleasant View Ranch, Malakwa, British 

Columbia. 
Wiper, E., Pleasant View Ranch, Malakwa, British Columbia. 
Whit well, G. {Hon. Mem.), Serpentine Cottage, Kendal. 
Wilson, J. A. {Hon. Mem.), Millbeck Stock, Bowness. 
Whiteside, R., 8, Barrowdale Road, Lancaster. 
Walton, J. W., Finkle Street, Richmond, Yorkshire. 
Williams, J. C. {Life Mem.), Caerhays Castle, St. Austell, Cornwall. 
Wilson, Walter, 9, East Lane, Fergustie, Paisley. 
Whiteley, T. L., 206, St. Leonard's Road, Bradford. 
Wognar, Herr H. Graz, Brockmanng 118/26, Austria. 
Ware, R. A., 246, Devonshire Street, Boston, Mass., U.S.A. 
White, E., 7, Victoria Street, S.W. 
White, Mrs. A. G., Mount View, York Road, Woking. 
Whitton, J., Bellahouston House, Glasgow. 
Wright, J. H., Courtlands, Rosemont Road, Acton, W. 
White, W. L. Salusbury, Lanwern Lodge, Leicester. 
Winslow, E. J., Lasell Seminary, Auburndale, Mass., U.S.A. 
Winser, Mrs. Anne C. C, Adderley Rectory, Market Drayton. 
Watson, W., Curator, Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Wootten, Mrs., Boyn Grove, Maidenhead. 
Walpole, John E., Highbury Whitby, near Chester. 
Woolard, J., 52. Churchfield Road, Acton. 


• • • 1 llv • • • 

Humorous Side of Horticulture. 

A little nonsense now and then 
Is relished by the wisest men, 
And even Solomon, no doubt, 
Was not a solemn'un throughout. 


" My sun Bill sez the Tatur Disees is bound to be 
sumthin of a cacchy nsLtuvJ'—lVillytim Gvubbius. 


"The Tatur Disees" 

and Other Essays. 

BY 

WILLYUM GRUBBINS, 

with further matter (wise and otherwise). 

COLLATED BY 

CHAS. T. DRUERY, V.M.a, FX.S., 

Author of "The New Gulliver, or Travels in Athomia," *' Versatile 

Verses/' "The Rocking of the Lilies/' "Choice British Ferns/' ♦^Thc 

Book of British Ferns/' "British Ferns and their Varieties/' etc. 

Published by the Author, 
MOORGATE STATION CHAMBERS, LONDON, E.C. 

Bevelled Boards. Illustrated, 2/6 net. 2/9 post free. 
But offered to Members of the B.P.S. at 1/6 net, 1'9 post free 


FERNS. 


^ * * 

R B, MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sizes, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

* ^ * 

Stoijc, GrcenDouse. and otfccr Plants 
. • .arc also laraclp sroion. . . ♦ 

^ * * 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants can be had post free 
upon application to — 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDr^ONTOli 


VOL. I. No. 10. 


♦ » * wDC » ♦ ♦ 


JBriti6b 3fem 
©a3ette» 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


©ecember, 19U. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H,, F.L.S, 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Ho)i. Secretary, C. T. Druery, ii, Shaa Rd., Acton, London, W.), 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


pr 


r. ACULEATUM GRAC'LLIMUM l^RUERY. 

{Full Development] 


THE 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 


Vol. I. 


DECEMBER, igii. 


No. lo. 


CONTENTS. 

Editorial Notes 

Our Frontispiece .. 

Some Polystichums Species and Varieties 

"Round my Fernery" 

POLYPODIUMS and DROUGHT 

Some Fern Hobby Experiences 

Varieties and Varieties.. 

Ferns and Mendelism 

Cystopteris sempervirens — dorsally proliferous 

New Fern 


PAGE. 
225 
226 

227 
231 

238 
241 

248 
248 


EDITORIAL NOTES. 

The Editor is happy to announce that from all quarters 
he is continually receiving most gratifying letters of ap- 
preciation regarding the "Gazette," while new members 
are swelling the ranks of its subscribers on fairly satisfac- 
tory lines. Fairly satisfactory, however, by no means 
realises the Editor's ambition, and he begs the present 
members once again to aid him to the utmost by bringing 
the " Gazette " under the notice of their fern-loving friends, 
or at least providing him with the names and addresses of 
such, so that he may send them a specimen copy and do 
the recruiting himself. The list of members given in the 
last issue contrasted with that available at the outset of the 
"Gazette" idea, little more than a score, puts him, it is 
true, on the right financial side, but it still leaves him no 
margin either for the extension of the letterpress or of the 
illustrations which he has in view. The subscription of 
five shillings per annum, entitling to membership and 
consequent association with a large number of fellow 


226 

hobbyists, plus four issues ot the "Gazette," is surely 
moderate enough for anyone inspired with a sincere interest 
in the marv^els of our Native Ferns, while every increase 
in the numbers is a step to that improvement of the 
"Gazette" itself, and consequent personal benefit, to 
which allusion is made above. All communications should 
be addressed to The Editor, 11 , Shaa Road, ActoUj London, 

W., WHO WOULD ALSO BE GLAD TO RECEIVE ANY OUT- 
STANDING SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. As 

regards the matter of the present issue, we have been again 
favoured by Mr. C. B. Green with a most interesting paper 
on the Shield Ferns, and also a contribution from the Rev. 
W. Kingsmill Moore on the Polypodies. Practical papers 
like these, or suggestions for same, are always welcome to 

The Editor. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

The frontispiece to No. i represented a frond of that 
remarkable strain of P. acnleatiim pnlclierrhmim (gracil- 
limum), to which we have alluded on several occasions^ 
and to which Mr. Green's article in the present issue also 
refers at length. To give an idea of the possibilities of 
this strain, we reproduce a photo, kindly taken and supplied 
by Mr. Green, of a frond which had developed on another 
plant in the Editor's fernery, and which shows the cristu. 
late character developed on a much finer scale than before. 
It is a curious fact that while in the parental plant P. ac. 
pnlchervimum, a piece of which is depicted on p. 4 of No. i, 
the pinnae adhere to the specific form by bearing pinnules, 
which gradually decrease in length as they taper off towards 
the slender tip of the pinna, in the " gracillimum " 
section they get longer and larger, and in addition follow 
out the same plan by expanding at their tips into pinnuloid 
growths, which go far to imitate crests, though not 
produced as with crests proper by any ramification of the 
midrib. The result is extremely beautiful and unique, as 


227 

our frontispiece shows, and appears to characterize in a 
greater or less degree, all the plants of the gracillimum 
type as they reach adult size. C. T. D. 


SOME POLYSTICHUMS; SPECIES AND 

VARIETIES. 

The genus Polystichuin, as regards species, constitutes a 
very small, but interesting group of British evergreen 
Ferns. The two or three species — for doctors differ — into 
which this group is divided, fortunately for specialists, 
abound in varieties of the most beautiful description. The 
term Polystichiim, it may be as well to emphasize, is com- 
pounded of two Greek words — polys, many, and stichos^ 
order — which terms refer to the numerous and orderly array 
of the lines of sori, which are so freely distributed over the 
backs of the fronds. The common name. Shield Fern, has 
reference to the round or shield-shaped indusia, which 
cover the spore cases, and which have a central attachment. 
The common name, however, is really a translation oiAspi- 
dittm — another name for the genus — which is derived from 
aspideon, a little shield. Hence we get Aspidistra, a favourite 
room-plant, which is often grown in association with Ferns, 
in fact, I have a pot in which some self-sown spores have 
developed into nice little plants. Here the same etymo- 
logical idea prevails with two distinct classes of plants. 
If, however, I seem to lay stress on this fact, it is only 
because a knowledge of the one is a great assistance to the 
understanding of the other. 

Having thus disposed of some encumbrance, so to speak, 
in regard to nomenclature, which I know is a stumbling 
block to many, the most useful thing to do now is to 
proceed to a description of varieties. But as varieties are 
also subject to technicalities, I would like to point out that 
common names are often misleading, whereas scientific 
ones should spell accuracy, definition, and absolute identity. 
Personally, I have respect for technical terms ; to me they 


228 

are aids to memory, lessons in elocution, and guides to 
orthoepy. But as I may be peculiar in this respect, I will 
now cast away the shadow for the substance, and the 
substance in the Polystichwn world is representative of an 
enormous number of concrete examples. Here again, 
before we can deal with varieties, we must refer them to 
their respective species. And what are varieties but 
variations, or departures from the normal ? 

As I know least about P. Lonchitis, it will be as well 
to dispose of that first. That I have not succeeded with 
this Fern is not, perhaps, remarkable, when one considers 
its alpine proclivities. These are very difficult to imitate 
at lower levels, and in a vitiated atmosphere practically 
impossible. 

It is, however, a neat little Fern, with speav-like rigid 
fronds of pinnate character, and is usually called the Holly 
Fern. It was not known as a British Fern when Ray 
published his " Catalogue " in 1670 ; although in the second 
edition of his ''Synopsis" he adopts the name of Lonchitis 
Aspeva Majov^ or "larger rough Spleenvvort, with indented 
leaves." He says, " It issues from clefts in the rocks on 
the tops of the mountains of Wales, as at Clogwyn-y- 
Garnedh-y-Grib-Goch-Trygvylchan ! " A Welsh member, 
perhaps, can supply the key, and possibly also the habitat. 
Anyhow, the species itself is interesting, while the two 
varieties, cvistattim and imbricatiun, are little gems, and are 
self-descriptive. 

We now come to another species — P. aculeatum, the Hard 
Prickly Shield Fern. This species may not inappropriately 
be regarded as a magnified form of P. Lonchitis, for a frond 
of the latter may well be taken to represent a pinna of the 
former. However, it is a Fern of splendid possibilities, 
especially in regard to one of its varieties. It is also a Fern 
of robust constitution, and differs from P. angnlare in 
several particulars, which, however, are more technical 
than practical, for it is easier to distinguish between the 
growing plants than to define their characteristics. Hence 


229 

in "high places" angtilave is regarded as a variety of 
aculeaUtm. To me this seems quite an obverse arrange- 
ment, as here, except in Scotland, aculeatitm is considerably 
less common than augulare. For garden purposes, how- 
ever, they are sufficiently distinct, and we may so regard 
them. 

P. actikatum, then, although less profuse in the matter of 
varieties, has produced a few — or at least one — of surpassing 
merit. That one — pulclierrimnm — has hitherto been described 
as "an unique beauty." But what shall we say of its 
progeny ? Well, I think we must " wait and see " ; for 
they are still developing, and unfolding more charms, 
" Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." As a 
matter of fact, the full capacity of the variations has yet 
to be recorded. But as this "beautiful" Fern — and its 
progeny — has been fascinatingly dealt with from time to 
time in the pages of our much-appreciated Gazette, I merely 
refer to it en passant as a part of the subject I have been 
asked to promote. (See frontispiece No. i and part of 
parent form on p. 4, also frontispiece of No. 3, B.F.G.) 

And yet, as second thoughts are often best, and as a 
recent visit to Mr. Druery's Fernery compelled my atten- 
tion to one of the progeny, I feel forced to refer to this one 
as an improved form of gvacillinmni cristulatuni, a certificated 
plant {vide frontispiece). That this is capable of still 
further " cristulation " is really remarkable ; and yet the 
plant in question has pinnules from two to three inches long, 
capped with broad sub-crests — a sort of pinnuloid growth 
forming pseudo-tassels ! The pinnae are about six inches 
long, the fronds lax and graceful, while the Fern, taken as 
a whole, is extremely handsome. In fact, like Romeo, one 
is inclined to ignore the beauty of Rosalind for the greater 
charms of Juliet. Another of the same type occupies a 
good deal of air space, for it has a spread of five feet over 
and a full set of fronds. 

Other varieties are acrocladon, capitatnm, coryinhiferum, 
cvistaio-gvacile and grand iceps Ahottcp, all of which are more 


230 

or less crested, as well as distinct and beautiful. Densiim 
is another fine foliose form, while hyhvidum acideato-crjiciatum 
is one of the late Mr. Lowe's remarkable crosses between 
P. ang. Wahleyaimm and P. ac. densuni, which ought to go a 
long way towards the argument in favour of unity of species. 
This plant, however, is more curious than beautiful — hence 
one might reason per contra and vote for purity of species. 

The third species of Polystichum — or well-defined garden 
form — is P. angiilave. Having already commented on the 
disagreement of botanists in the relation of this with 
acideatum, I will merely add that, in normal specimens, 
their distinctive characters are sufficiently clear for our 
purpose. Apart from technical differences, however, 
angulare is more soft and delicate in texture and more 
pendant and elegant in habit. 

As to the varieties, they are so numerous that I cannot 
pretend to deal with a tithe of them. In E. J. Lowe's little 
book 394 varieties are recorded ; in " The Book of British 
Ferns," by Mr. Druery, about i8o forms receive attention; 
while in the latest publication — " British Ferns and their 
Varieties " — also by Mr. Druery, the author has endea- 
voured to slightly curtail this number — to choose, in fact, 
only the very best. As, however, there are still too many 
for me to manipulate, I will content myself by dealing only 
with those that I can recommend. Out of so large a 
number, even of good things, one has perforce to be 
eclectic — to pick and choose to suit one's own accommoda- 
tion and requirements. 

At the outset one is confronted with some good things 
in the acutilobuin section. Here the fronds are much divided 
and the lobes acutely pointed. There are forms of Gray, 
Hartley and Phillips, and many more of bulbiferous 
character. These are perhaps better known outside the 
cult on account of this proliferous habit. They are pro- 
pagated by the trade, and seem to find a ready sale, for one 
often comes across them. This proliferous peculiarity, 
however, is not confined to this section, as all Fern-growers 


231 

are aware. Then we have the imdtilohiun section, among 
which there are some very fine forms. Here the pinnules 
are divided into rounded lobes and the fronds assume a 
tripinnate character. 

At Kew both sections are well represented and looked 
wonderfully satisfactory in October last, the season not- 
withstanding. I particularly noted tvipinnaUim. 

C. B. Green. 
(To be cofitinued .) 

''ROUND MY FERNERY." 

One of the chief delights of the Fern lover who possesses 
a good collection is to receive a visit from a sympathetic 
and appreciative fellow hobbyist and to take him round, 
and, without a fear of boring him, dilate upon the 
peculiarities and the histories of his specialities and acquisi- 
tions. In this way there is always something to be 
mutually learnt by the comparison of experiences, and 
although it is not quite the same thing to address such 
sympathetic spirits by mere pen and ink, in the absence of 
the precious pets, the ferns themselves, there is a pleasure 
in undertaking such a task, and quite possibly a sympa- 
thetic one is evolved on the part of the reader or readers. 
My Fernery then, or rather my collection, consists of three 
departments, viz. a cold conservatory on the north side of 
the house about 23 feet by 14 feet, a garden about 80 feet 
by 30 feet, and a spare north room in the dwelling house, 
in which there is a Wardian case for spore culture. In the 
conservatory, in some 500 pots of various dimensions, there 
are some hundreds of the choicest varieties mostly of the 
more delicate structural kind which are the better for 
protection, while in the open there are some hundreds of 
plants, embracing a large number of Ferns, raised from 
spores and otherwise acquired, which better stand the 
influence of sun and wind. The first thing we note on 
entering the conservatory from the house is an immense 
plant of the original A . f.f. pUimosuui Dviievy, four feet high 


232 

and more through, the beautiful cutting of which must be 
seen to be appreciated. In the corner to the left is the 
** King of the Male Ferns" (L. p. m. cvistata)^ with aa 
eighteen-inch trunk, due to constant suppression of lateral 
off-sets, which we have had over thirty years, and in the 
opposite corner a larger but trunkless specimen oi L. p. m. 
polydactyla Wills. Behind this, on a shelf, stands a half- 
round cork receptacle with a roofing-slate back, in which, 
for at least twenty-five years, a Lady Fern of the well- 
crested Craigii persuasion has thriven without any change 
of soil save now and then a handful or two by way of mulch 
to make up for shrinkage. From holes left in the cork a 
number of self-sown seedlings of several species protrude 
and thrive without detriment to the Lady Fern aforesaid, 
a curious example of persistent growth without special 
attention, division, or shifting, for an extended period. At 
this end of the conservatory, as companions to those named, 
there are arranged on a series of step shelves or supported 
on drain pipes as space demands, a fine specimen of the 
original A . /./. Victoria; ^ the original A . f.f. pevcvistatum 
Cousens, an immense plant about five feet across of P. ang. 
plumosum Gviinmondii on the lines of the Jones and Fox 
plumosums, a division of the original P. ang. acrocladon 
received from Mr. Mapplebeck the finder, a few of 
the choicest Drnevyii pevcristatiim Lady Ferns, an 
immense specimen of P. aculeattim pulchevnimim , and last, 
but by no means least, an original division of A. f.f. 
Clavissima Jones, upon which apospory was first dis- 
covered by the writer. In and among these are 
smaller examples, including L. p. ;/;. finbriafa cvistata, 
P. ang. pevcristatiim Moly, a charming fern with evenly- 
crested pinnules, and Moly's P. ang. grandiceps^ a particu- 
larly fine seedling form, while on shelves there are several 
pans full of the new and promising brood of P. aculeatum 
gvacillimum Drnery, which so unexpectedly sprang from 
P. aculeatum pnlcherrimum a few years back, as described in 
the first number of our " Gazette." 


233 

We now descend a step into that part of the conservatory 
which represents an extension of the short one originally 
built, and to which we have adverted above, and here we 
find a large oblong central step-staging with lateral step 
stages all round with red tiled pathways between and a 
wide shelf across the end, which is entirely of glass, while 
the sides are of wood or brickwork for half their height. 
The chief ornaments in the centre consist of another huge 
specimen of P. acul. ptilchevvimum^ the actual parent of the 
new batch in question, WoUaston's P.ang.cvistatum No. lo, 
a gem of first water, and also one of A. f.f. phimosum 
Dvuery, the latter a single crown division of the original, 
Wills' A. f.f. pi lunosuiii, a presumed cross of the writer's 
effected between A. f.f. pevcristatum Cousensii and A. f.f. 
Kalothvix, but only suggesting the influence of the latter by 
its elongated pinnules, the original A. f.f. superbiim, from 
which sprang all the " superbum " strain now so prominent 
among the elite of the Lady Fern tribe, including plumosum 
Dviievy itself, several choice descendents of same, L. p. m. 
ramosissima, L. f. in. polydadyla Dadds, a grand Scol. v. 
crispttm (Stablerae), 5. v. sagittato grandiceps, a curio with a 
sort of triple bunch crest on the top of a bare stalk, raised 
by the writer from a merely suhsagittate lohatnm (one of 
nine ail alike), Mr. Alexander Cowan's beautifully crested 
Pseudathyrium alpestvc, several fine plumose Polystichums of the 
Stansfield strain and a score or two of other interesting 
varieties on a smaller scale, including a mottled crested 
Lady Fern, presumably a Cousensii seedling, but variegated. 
This central group is very interesting, and we may here 
indicate an essential point in its arrangement and that of 
the other shelving around it, viz. that all is so arranged 
that every plant is within easy reach, experience having 
taught us that otherwise it is not only difficult to examine 
and appreciate, but sooner or later plants of difficult access 
are bound to be neglected. On the left hand shelving there 
are particularly arranged specimens of interest as our own 
finds or raisings, and practically every one has its history 


234 

as such. The most prominent plants are naturally a row 

of now finely developed specimens of P. aculeatum gvacilliimim 

Druevyj probably of full size in several instances. These 

have^turned out to be, not merely of quite unique beauty with 

their long lucent surfaced pinnules an inch or two long, but 

as having a fine robust constitution. No tv/o are precisely 

alike in make but all are peculiarly beautiful, a symmetrical 

circlet of characteristic fronds nearly a yard in length is a 

sight to be seen. About half a score of these, including a 

specimen of Mr. C. B.Green's "plumosum" of likeorigin,but 

on very different lines, are ranged along this side, and only 

interrupted by a grand specimen seedling of P. ang. 

B al dm iuii, with perfect tips and without a blemish. This, 

unfortunately, though raised from spores gathered by 

ourselves from the original finely dissected form, does not 

repeat the parent, but only rivals, or perhaps excels, in 

constitution P. ang. d. p. denswn Jones and Fox, whence, 

according to Mr. E.J. Lowe, Baldwinii arose as a bulbiL 

Along the shelf upon which these gems are elevated are a 

number of Hartstongue finds of our own and one or two 

specimens of that unique gem L. p. m. pevcvistata apospora^ 

any portion of whose delicately fringed and tasselledfronds,^ 

is capable of producing an indefinite number of plants by 

associated apospory and apogamy, first growing out into 

Prothalli, while these almost immediately bud out into 

the parental form, the usual slow sexual process being 

omitted. Garnett's aposporous and crested ^././. Clavissima 

is here in fine form, but it is quite obvious that space 

precludes detail of all the specimens. 

On the opposite^ side are grouped the Polypodium vnlgave 
varieties, a number of good specimens monopolizing half 
the length. Along the window at the end are grouped a 
considerable number mostly of small-growing forms, among 
which is Scol. v. Cousensiij the most marked of the dense 
ramifying varieties as found wild. Here, too, is our own 
spirale, rainoso-cristatum, finibriattim and others of the Harts- 
tongue tribe, and, as an exception in size, a fine plant 


235 

of Moly's P. ang. pulcnerrimnm variegatunif which is quite 
unique as a permanently aposporous and symmetrically 
variegated British Fern. On a second shelf in front of this 
one is a row of ninety potted seedlings of P. actil. pulchevri' 
nmiii, many of which have declared themselves as future 
" gracillimums," while among the rest are many promising 
foliose forms. This lot, and those in pans mentioned above^ 
undoubtedly represent one of the most remarkable batches 
of British Fern gems ever obtained. The opportunity of 
watching their development may be ranked as one of the 
highest rewards a fern lover can desire for his toil and trouble. 
At this point we feel we should have been wiser to have 
headed our notes " A Shelf in Our Fernery " rather than 
as entitled, so much has been omitted in this necessarily 
limited glance, particularly as the plants outside remain to 
be considered. Stepping, then, into the open, we see before 
us one oblong bed containing a jungle of long-established 
forms, and in the shadow of the Fernery and the partial 
shadow of the west wall a similar jungle extends almost 
the whole length of the garden. Further on, and entirely 
unshaded, are two wide beds recently established, and in 
the centre of the lawn there is an oval bed with a large 
white Lilac tree in the centre, under the shade of which a 
group of very choice plumose and other Shield Ferns are 
doing marvellously well. The old-established specimens 
would appear to be handicapped by the profuse growth of 
self-sown Primroses, Scillas and, truth to tell, an abundant 
supply of weeds, and amid which may be discerned much 
of the debris of old fronds of previous seasons. In point 
of fact, however, we find that the soil being thus covered 
forms a great protection against drought, and the very 
robust character of the Ferns shows clearly enough not 
only that they can hold their own, but derive an advantage 
from their untended environment. Even Lastvea montana 
grows vigorously in the full sun, L. dilatata and other 
Lastreas attain full size, as do many of the Athyria, while 
Shield Ferns thrive as if in a Devonian Combe. 


236 

With the Hartstongues we have for years been terribly- 
handicapped by the Weevil (Otiovhynciis sulcatus), particu- 
larly under glass, where the beetle in summer destroyed the 
fronds, and its grubs the roots during the winter, to such 
an extent that we could never raise a presentable specimen. 
We have, consequently, contrived two narrow beds in the 
passage-way between ours and our neighbour's house, and 
as this is protected from the wind, and also from the sun, 
save for about an hour in the day, we have transferred our 
damaged specimens thither,and to all appearances they are 
taking hold and mean to thrive. 

Reading over the above, we find that the Polypodmm 
vulgare section has been too briefly treated, especially as, 
owing to the curious fact that many of the best forms do 
not start growth until July, they extend the interesting 
growing and developing season for several months. In 
pots and pans under glass there is a splendid group 
embracing all the best, while two large wire baskets 
mounted on drain-pipes standing in corners, and containing 
fine specimens of several varieties each, complete the 
collection. 

The Cambricum section is represented by vigorous 
specimens of the old Camhrictiin, Bavvoivii, Pvestonii and 
Hadwinii, a smaller-growing variety being, we believe, 
Oakleyac. The crested ones are hifido-cvistat^im, cristatnin, 
gvandiceps Parker, Forster and Fox, glomevatiim MuUins, 
yamosum Hillman, cvistatum Scarborough (received from Mr. 
W^oUaston) and Covnuhiense hifido-innltifidum, a curious cross 
effected by Mr. Clapham which rings the changes on the 
normal, the several grades of cutting of Cornubiense itself, 
and all these types with the hifido-nmUifidum blood evidenced 
by divided tips, all these forms cropping up in the shape of 
entire fronds, or parts of fronds, in a sort of "anyhow" 
manner. Cornubiense itself figures in its forms of tricho- 
manoides and Clapham's plumose cross, and, of course, the 
old original erratic form is found. P. v. pulcherruiium, 
our own find " luacrosoravi," a deltoid, well-cut variety of 


237 

a particularly fertile character, inacvostachya, longipinnatnm^ 
sevvatum, seniilaccvum, omnilaceviiui and a number of other 
varieties all figure and suffice to show the wonderful 
versatility of this species. We must not forget to add 
P. V, Rohevtsii, found last year as a tiny plant near Barn- 
staple, and promising to be a very fine form on probably 
J)ulchevvimum lines, though not yet sufficiently developed to 
name otherwise than provisionally. 

Finally, we may mention three seedlings from the L. 
thelyptevis polydactylay found in the United States, which are 
developing fme g y and iceps cresting, entitling them justifiably 
to election as British-born varieties of that hitherto unvaried 

species in this country. 

C. T. D. 


POLYPODIUMS AND DROUGHT. 

In most parts of the United Kingdom the summer of 
igii has been rainless. I spent August in Devon and 
Cornwall. Everywhere the growth of the ferns was 
affected, often the Polystichums and Scolopendviums being 
limp and helpless, like dying animals craving a drop of 
water. 

But the Polypodiums, so far as my observation goes, 
have not only tolerated, but have thriven upon the drought. 

In my " Polypodery " in Co. Dublin upwards of twenty 
varieties flourish. They are in shade and in shelter ; but 
most of them are planted after a fashion which, even in a 
normal season, involves a minimum of root moisture. 
Noticing the fern's liking for having its roots in connec- 
tion with wood, and its love of quick drainage, I hollowed 
out a number of elm logs differing in height from one to 
two and a-half feet. Some others, made hollow by nature, 
were filled with rough stones, which carry off water at 
once, those hollowed artificially were drained by many 
augur holes. The result has been a bed for the ferns not 
far removed in dryness from the top of a wall. 


238 

The plan, which was first tried some half-dozen years 
ago, has succeeded beyond expectation, and many kinds 
which almost refused to grow before now flourish and give 
no trouble. This note, however, is concerned not with the 
general conditions of the " polypodery," but with its 
behaviour this dry summer. Speaking comprehensively, 
I may say that these ferns have actually done better in 
the drought than before. One or two may be a little 
shorter ; this is certainly the case with P. v. Ptdclievvinmm, 
which usually attains to abnormal dimensions in a tall 
stump ; on the other hand, some are taller, e.g. P. v. 
Cvistatum Minor has ceased to be Minor by doubling its 
usual size. 

But all show a luxuriance and fulness of development 
which I have not noticed before. This is particularly the 
case with the beautiful P. v. Tvichoumnoides and its near 
relative P. v. Ekgantissimum, but it applies more or less tO' 
all. Such growth, under such trying climatic conditions, 
would have been less remarkable had artificial watering 
been employed, but as a matter of fact the watering-pot 
has not been used for the Polypodmms more than once or 
twice during the season. 

H. KiNGSMILL MoORE, D.D. 

Cedar Mount, Dundrum. 


SOME FERN HOBBY EXPERIENCES. 

Every hobby-rider is, of course, particularly enamoured 
of, and engrossed in, his own special pursuit, and it is a 
good thing that it is so, since sincere enthusiasm in any 
direction involving collection and studious research is 
almost bound to add something to the general store of 
knowledge by the investigation involved and the facts 
ascertained and put on record which otherwise might have 
been lost. There are, however, hobbies and hobbies, and 
we may legitimately divide them into two categories, the 
natural and the artificial. The artificial hobby may be 
described as one which is entirely devoted to human handi- 


239 

work or ideas of some kind or other, while the natural 
hobby deals with the work of Nature, at any rate as a 
basis, and it is to this class that the British Fern hobby 
belongs. A natural hobby is absolutely inexhaustible, we 
can never plunge deeply into it without perceiving that the 
special branch involved in our studies is part and parcel of 
the great scheme of Creation, with all its marvellous laws 
and phenomena, while in a hobby of the other kind, the limit 
is that of human capacity as contrasted with the infinite. 
In my '•' case, perhaps, this enthusiasm has been emphasised 
by peculiar good fortune, since success, whether the result 
of chance or that of careful study, is bound to inspire 
greater vigour in the pursuits concerned. 

Chance, indeed, has been the main factor with me in 
establishing a hobby on successful lines. It was pure 
chance that a mixed sowing of spores in 1881 should yield 
two quite different varieties of Lady Ferns, a young 
seedling of which in each case was dotted profusely with 
bulbils. That was practically the starting point of recorded 
observations, and it is a curious fact that despite hundreds 
of subsequent sowings, it is only this year (thirty years 
afterwards) that a similar experience has occurred. A 
published record of this led to other bulbil-bearing Ferns 
being submitted to me for my opinion, and this eventually 
brought under my notice the bulbil-bearing pinna of A. f.f, 
plumosiini eleganSf^hich. in two generations, from its associated 
spores, gave the wonderfully beautiful and diverse strain of 
the '' stt'pevbujii" plumosums to the world. This again was 
pure chance ; I sowed merely to get eiegajis, which I did 
not possess, and good fortune did the rest. It was to the 
reputation based on the original bulbil discoveries (and 
which led the late Mr. Burbridge to dub me " Bulbil 
Druery") which brought the mysteriously barren and yet 
apparently sporiferous ''A. ff, Clarissima Jones" under my 
notice, and I still vividly remember my repeated remarks 
to my wife during the investigations I was making in that 
* These notes are too personal for the editorial " we." 


240 

connection that at last " there was something new under 
the sun," which indeed, so far as records went, proved to be 
the case when the new phenomenon of " Apospory " was 
demonstrated, proved and accepted by the Linnean Society. 
Who could avoid becoming an enthusiastic hobbyist when 
so rewarded, not by the acquisition of an inanimate piece 
of bric-a-brac or a new or old postage-stamp, but by a 
discovery which enabled me to produce from a bit of a 
fern frond of a peculiarly beautiful type, and as a barren 
fern, individually unique, some hundreds of counterparts 
for wide distribution. In artificial hobbies, as we have 
defined them, there are, at any rate, no experiences of this 
enthralling kind. The recent experience with Polystichum 
aculeatum pulchcvrimiim is another stroke of absolute luck 
due to nothing but a desire to increase a beautiful parental 
form, rare because always deemed barren, and a host of 
far lovelier and quite new varieties is vouchsafed both to 
Mr. Green, who made a joint sowing, and myself. 

Many of my old fellow Fern hobbyists, who, alas ! in 
many cases have joined the majority, have been signally 
fortunate in another line, viz. that of Fern hunting, adding 
scores and even hundreds to the list of known and beautiful 
varieties, by their assiduous search in the districts round 
about them. These discoveries were mostly favoured by 
residence in the ferny districts of Great Britain, but I, 
a Londoner born and bred and constantly resident therein, 
had but the autumn week or two, and these only in occa- 
sional years, to devote to this branch of the hobby, and yet 
fortune has favoured me again with numerous finds of value 
as a proof that it is well within the competence of the town 
dwelling Fern hobbyist to reap success in that direction. 

One point I have always borne in mind and recommend 
strongly to my fellow enthusiasts, and that is not to hide 
their light under a bushel by failing to record and publish 
their discoveries or experiences for the benefit of their 
fellow Fern lovers. This does not involve, or, at any rate, 
should not involve censure for egotism. Personal experience 


24 I 

always appeals far more strongly to the mind than 

indefinite hearsay, and it is this convection rather than 

egotism, which has dictated this little excerpt from my 

own career as a fern hobbyist for the possible benefit of my 

readers. 

C. T. D. 

VARIETIES AND VARIETIES. 

In the study of variation in the Fern world, novv that it 
is known that the number of varieties, natural, i,e. wild, 
and cultural, as resulting from subsequent sowing of spores 
from wild finds, is practically unlimited, discrimination of 
what is worth growing and what is not becomes more and 
more essential. The wild forms, of course, possess the 
greatest interest as the results of natural evolution since 
their abnormalities, however curious and in our present 
knowledge inexplicable, must inevitably be due to some 
underlying natural cause, some subtle influence in the 
mother cell within which they must oiiginate. This must 
be so, since every fern and every part of a fern starts growth 
with a single cell, which by subsequent division and multi- 
plication builds up a structure which, as a rule, conforms 
to the specific plan of the plants concerned. We find, 
however, that if we, as fern hunters, carefully examine a 
large number of plants in a wild state, departures from 
the normal specific type are by no means infrequent, mostly, 
it is true, of a minor, or it may be, partial type; but as we 
are aware, every now and again examples present them- 
selves of a very marked character indeed, the peculiarities 
pervading the entire plant, including its reproductive system . 
As a result of this, not merely is the individual markedly 
modified, but its progeny is similarly or even more markedly 
affected, which of course is the selective cultivator's oppor- 
tunity. Some species we find to be much more constant 
to the normal type than others. With the Spleenworts, for 
instance, we may examine thousands, nay, scores of 
thousands without finding any appreciable departure ; while 


242 

on the other hand, with the Lady Fern, in many places 
where it is abundant, there is so much variation in cutting, 
habit and general detail that it is difficult to match the 
fronds of any two individuals. In the Lastreas, L. filix mas 
is much given to the production of " rogue " forms, partial 
forkings and irregularities characterizing some fronds on 
a plant while the rest are quite normal. L. montana, where- 
ever it is found, is apt to produce the '* truncata " type, and 
also varies greatly in width and foliaceousness independently 
of environment. L. dilatata, too, varies so much as to 
constitute a subject of disputation between botanists, who 
have considered it to consist of several distinct species, 
L. spinulosa, L. uliginosa, and L. cristata, though in the 
opinion of our most experienced British fernists all these 
are so linked together by intermediate forms that L. dilatata 
should be held to embrace them all, they thus ranking 
merely as varietal forms and not species proper. 

Recurring to L. filix mas, however, we consider that Mr. 
G. B. WoUaston was fully justified in dividing this into three 
sub-species, L. filix mas, L.pseudo mas, and L. pvopinqua mas, 
since each of them has its distinct characters which he has 
clearly defined and which fern hunters easily recognize. 
No one, for instance, seeing filix mas side by side with 
pseiido mas can confound one with the other, and pvopinqua, 
with its local distribution and curved pinnae is equally 
recognizable, linking forms not being found. Poly podium 
vidgare may be classed with the generally constant, but 
careful study will show local differences of make particularly 
in the arrangement of the terminal pinnae, sometimes 
tapering gradually towards the frond tip, which at others 
finishes off with a pinna set as it were on end. All these, 
however, are minor forms of variation, which are now 
practically ignored in favour of the really abnormal types 
which crop up sporadically and are rarely found in quantity. 
These represent very wide departures from the normal, 
involving often great differences in structure such as no 
■normal species presents. There is, for instance, no known 


243 

species which bears crests or terminal tassels, and yet 
curiously enough so large a number of both British and 
€xotic species have sported in that way, and fresh and diverse 
species are so constantly displaying it under culture or as 
wild finds, that the whole Fern world would appear to be 
subject to variation in this particular way. It is even a 
matter of surprise that in the process of specific and generic 
evolution, in which it is reasonable to assume " sports " or 
*' mutations " must have played a part, no crested species 
should have appeared, particularly as cresting does not 
involve any reduction of spore-producing energy, the very 
crests or tassels indeed often bearing spores in profusion. 

Variation naturally assumes all grades, and ranges from 

the comparatively slight departures from the common type, 

which may be regarded as mere individualities, such as in 

the Lady Ferns we have alluded to, up to such marked and 

thorough types as form the elitey and represent the 

material upon which the expert selective cultivator works, 

and from which he has obtained through the spore most of 

the finest forms in cultivation. Many thorough-breds yield 

progeny so true to their own type that no progress is 

made, but it by no means follows that every season's 

sowing will yield the same results. When once the normal 

type is departed from, it may be accepted as a general rule 

that variation will occur again. Some years ago we 

made a sowing from our own find Atliyviiim f. f. cristatum 

Kilrushense, the finest wild tasselled form yet discovered, 

but to our surprise the sowing yielded no crested ferns, a 

subsequent second sowing however yielded nothing but 

thoroughly typical forms, including a qvandiceps. We 

therefore concluded that an error had been made in the 

registration of sowing No. i, but this opinion has been 

greatly shaken by the fact that a third sowing, made last 

season with particular care, is showing a mass of Lady 

Ferns, among which so far we are only able to detect two 

or three slightly crested ones. This would seem to indicate 

that different seasons may differently affect the repro- 


244 

ductive system, inducing reversions at one time and 
adherence to parental type at another. Years ago Mr. 
Whitwell accidentally raised a number of very dwarf ramo- 
cristate plants of Lastvca propinqna in a sowing of Blechnum 
spores, and these were so diverse from any fern in his 
possession that their genesis has always been a puzzle. 
On a visit, however, this season to Messrs. H. B. May's 
nursery we saw a large batch of precisely similar dwarf 
plants, all of which had originated from a registered sowing 
of L. pvopinqua crispa, which is neither dwarf nor ramo- 
cristate, the parental fern not appearing at all. The genesis 
of Mr. Whitwell's batch is thus established, but why two such 
diverse batches should appear at long intervals and not at 
all in the interim is as great a puzzle as the original one, 
and must apparently depend upon some seasonal influence 
which only occurs at intervals. These examples, however, 
lie a little apart from the moral this article is intended to 
inculcate, viz. that only thorough-bred symmetrical and 
constant forms and not sub-varieties or defective types, 
should be used for selective purposes or given names which 
will leave an impression of value on the minds of fern 
students. 

Members of the "curio" tribe, unless beautiful as well, 
should be ignored (except as souvenirs) when found wild. 
That it is only the best which will engender the best is 
the motto to be adopted, and whether mentally formulated 
or not, it embodies the principle that has raised our 
British Ferns to their present elevation as embracing some 
of the most beautiful Ferns the world has produced. 
Half a century ago popular taste for them was, if not 
killed entirely, rendered entirely dormant, by the 
exhibition of " monstrosities," whose very defects 
were made the subject of high encomiums and high 
prices to fit, while the small comparative number of 
" thorough-breds " were lost in the crowd. To-day the 
latter, thanks to enthusiastic collectors and cultivators, are 
so numerous that the case is entirely reversed, but still we 


245 

have to be careful, or the ease and abundance with which 
the rogue forms assert themselves, and are thus liable to be 
put forward for sale, may water down the popular interest 
now felt and revive to some extent the old idea that British 
Ferns are not worth growing. 

C. T. D. 


FERNS AND MENDELISM. 

I have sometimes been asked whether I considered that 
Ferns were subject to Mendelian laws of heredity, but 
although I have no doubt that those laws pervade all 
organic life and embrace therefore Ferns, it appears to me 
a matter of extreme or indeed insuperable difficulty to 
establish this as a fact in the same way as has been so 
abundantly done in the animal and plant world generally. 
The reproductive operations of the Fern appear to me to 
be conducted on such lines as practically to exclude 
scientific certainty in tabulating results or even in tracing 
results to definite causes. The well-established fact that 
when once a fern has " sported " its progeny are liable to 
sport again, introduces a disturbing factor, as indeed the 
faculty of spontaneous " sporting " must do in all Mende- 
lian experiments, by introducing new " characters " which 
may entirely upset the calculations of the experimentalists. 
Another grave difficulty is involved in the minute 
character of the reproductive operations, which renders 
crossing on systematic lines a practical impossibility. The 
only line to be followed by would-be investigators is to 
ignore varieties and to confine their efforts to the crossing of 
normal forms of species sufficiently closely allied but also 
sufficiently distinct in character to permit of recognition of 
such distinctive characters in the crossed progeny should any 
result. Even here, however, should F^, or the first family, 
produce recognisable results, which it might not, even with 
a successful cross, since the dominant character usually 
asserts itself in Fi, the cross, thus showing that type only, 


246 

no systematic second crossing afterwards would be 
practicable even if the progeny were fertile, and the only 
way would be to sow again from Fi, by itself, and trust to 
the segregation of character in F., showdng the Mendelian 
proportions. A further drawback is that ferns are not 
usually fertile in the first year or two, so that experiments 
would require a much longer period than, for example, 
annual peas or other plants which yield a fresh generation 
every year. In this connection it may be w'ell to record 
here that an undoubted cross between the percvuciate A. f. f. 
Victoria and the bristly A. f. f. setigevum was raised by 
Mr. Birkenhead some years ago, the progeny being of true 
Victorae form, but bristly like setigerum. A sowing 
from one of these by the writer yielded a number of plants 
all quite true to the mixed type, a proof, so far as it goes, 
that in this case no segregation of character occurred on 
Mendelian lines. 

C. T. D. 


SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE VAR. 
SAGITTATO-GRANDICEPS. 

It is a well-known fact to those who raise Scolopendrium 
varieties from spores that the progeny is very apt to vary 
considerably, and, although maintaining the particular 
characters of the parent, to present them in varying grades. 
The above-named form, however, is interesting as forming 
a marked exception, although from its history it would 
have been expected that considerable variation would have 
arisen. In the first place the immediate parent was found 
wild in Cornwall as a form of " lobatum," a common type 
of quite normal make save that the tips of the fronds are 
divided into several. In this case, how^ever, the basal 
lobes were lengthened and somewhat fanned at their tips, 
so that it was named sagittato-lobatum. As the wild fronds 
so characterized sent to me bore spores, by way of experi- 


247 

ment these were sown. The result, greatly to my surprise, 
was the appearance among a number of variants, normal 
or irregularly inheriting the comparatively simple parental 
form, of nine plants, all alike, in which the flat strap-like 
specific frond had disappeared, being replaced by three 
ball-like crests agglomerated together to form one ball-like 
mass at the top of a long, bare stalk. This evidently 
resulted from the fingered lobatum terminal of the parent 
and the fanned tips of the basal lobes having been so 
modified as to form three heavy crests on grandiceps lines, 
while these absorbed so much of the energy of each frond 
that the leafy or strap-like portion became suppressed, the 
three crests thus being merged into one, though on 
examination the triple character is clear enough. I 
therefore named it as above. It is, so far as I know, an 
absolutely unique form, and has, moreover, on several 
occasions developed bulbil plants on the frond surfaces. 

By way of further experiment I sowed spores, which are 
sparsely produced, some two years ago. The result has 
been a considerable batch of plants, every one of which is 
producing exactly the parental character without any 
reversion at all to the grandparental type, so that the new 
character seems to be entirely fixed. 

The original batch of nine plants arose, it will be 
observed, from a sowing of spores from the wild form 
before it had been under cultivation, taken, in short, from 
a wild frond, and it is clear that had these spores been 
scattered the new form might have appeared as an inde- 
pendent find, which nobody would have been inclined to 
attribute to the actual parent. As a rule, when discovering 
varieties, it is impossible to find forms in the locality which 
indicate the probability of step-by-step variation instead 
of the sudden assumption of a new type in its full develop- 
ment. Obviously, however, in this case, the possibility of 
such gradings being masked by the extent of the change is 
not excluded. 

C. T. D, 


248 

CYSTOPTERIS SEMPERVIRENS 
(PROLIFEROUS). 

I have received from Dr. Stansfield a portion of a frond 
of this species from Mr. H. Stansfield's Nursery at Sale, 
near Manchester, on which a large number of young 
plants with nearly inch-long fronds have been developed 
from dorsal bulbils amid the spore heaps. Although 
similar dorsal bulbils are produced in conjunction with the 
sori on several abnormal varieties of British Ferns — viz. 
the plumose Athyria, P. vnlgave degantissimum and Adiantum 
capillns veneris var. wibvicaUim — this appears to be the first 
instance of their appearance in a normal British species. 
C. sempevvivcns was found many years ago in both Kent and 
Devon, but was assumed to be an introduction from 
Madeira. A full description, however, of a more recent 
find in Scotland is given in No. 4, pages 79 to 80, of the 
** British Fern Gazette," which establishes its indigenous 
character, and the question now is whether it should not be 
recorded as a distinct native species rather than a mere 
variety of C. fvagilis. C. T. D. 


NEW FERN. 

The Rev. E. H. Hawkins, of Stroud, has kindly sent 
me a plant of a very fine P. angidave cvistatum found by 
himself five or six years ago at Finure, co. Cork. It is a 
perfectly constant and symmetrical form, of full size, 
neatly crested both terminally and laterally. The pinnules 
are set with fine teeth, giving a suggestion of the percris- 
tatum character, but are not crested. On a well-developed 
frond the lateral crests are so heavy as to give an elegant 
pendulous character to the pinnae. The plant is sparingly 
bulbiferous and abundantly fertile. As a cristatum pure 
and simple, it is, I think, at least equal to the very best 
previously found, and I am not sure that it has an equal in 
thoroughness, grace and symmetry. F. W. Stansfielp. 

Reading, September 2nd, 191 1. 


^^ BRITISH FERNS AND THEIR 
VARIETIES/' 

By Charles T. Druevy, V.M,H., F.L.S., 

With forty magnificent coloured plates, 319 wood cuts 
and other illustrations, and 96 monochrome reprints of 
a selection of the choicest varieties nature printed by the 
late Col. A, M. Jones of Clifton, with his original notes 
in extenso. In cloth 7s. 6d. net ; in half morocco, gilt, 
los. 6d. net. 

It will interest the members to know that by the 
enterprise of Messrs. George Routledge & Sons, Ltd., the 
author has been enabled to realize one of the pet ambitions 
of his life, viz. the production, on practically untrammelled 
lines, of a thoroughly up-to-date and well illustrated record 
of our native ferns in their specific and varietal forms, 
together with such information as to their history, culture 
and biological peculiarities as will render the work a 
thorough compendium of knowledge for the amateur's 
reference plus indications of sources of knowledge 
valuable to those who take an interest on the scientific 
side. The addition of an appendix consisting of ninety-six 
of the choicest of the late Col. Jones' nature prints, 
accompanied by his contemporary notes, which the author 
has been kindly permitted by Miss Jones to use as a supple- 
ment, renders this book an absolutely unique one, apart 
from its comprehensive and practical character in other 
directions. Certainly no British Fern lover or Botanical 
Library should be without it as the standard work on the 
subject, and it would be an advantage to the author (the 
Editor of the Gazette and secretary of the British 
Pteridological Society) if orders for it 'were sent to him 
personally to his address as given elsewhere. 


FERNS. 


* * * 

H* B, MAY & SONS wish to call attention to 
their unrivalled Collection of Exotic, Hardy Exotic, and 
British Ferns, of which last they have a large and select 
collection. 

Their Exhibits at the great London and other Shows 
have gained some of the highest awards obtainable in this 
country. 

At their Nurseries will be found immense numbers 
of Ferns in all sires, from the smallest to gigantic specimens, 
inspection of which at all times is cordially invited. 

* * * 

stove, 6reenDou$e, and otDcr Plants 
. . .are also laraeip arotun. . . . 

* * * 

Catalogues of Ferns and other Plants can be had post free 
upon application to — 

H. B. MAY & SONS, 

THE FERN SPECIALISTS, 

THE NURSERIES, UPPER EDMOKTON. 


VOL. I. No. 11. 


♦ ♦ ♦ wDv ♦ ♦ ♦ 


JBritieb Ifcm 
©asette. 


PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. 


fIDarcb, 1912. 


EDITED BY 

CHARLES T. DRUERY, V.M.H., F.L,S. 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE BRITISH PTERIDOLOGICAL SOCIETY 

{Hojt. Secretary, C. T. Druery, ii, SJiaa Rd., Actons London, 11'.), 
KENDAL, WESTMORELAND. 


The Polystichums. 


THE 


BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 


Vol. I. 


MARCH, 1912. 


No. II. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Editorial Notes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 249 

Our Frontispiece (The Polystichums) .. .. ., 250 

The Narrative of a Resuscitated Collection .. .. 251 

Our Common Ferns (The Lastreas) .. .. .. .. 258 

Some Polystichums : Species and Varieties {continued) . . 262 

New Fern Strains . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 267 

Spring Treatment of Hardy Ferns .. .. .. .. 271 

The Angulare Pulcherrimums. . .. .. .. .. 274 

New Ferns .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 280 


EDITORIAL NOTES. 

Naturally during the winter and dormant season 
for Ferns we have little to report as to new things, 
but we present with pleasure to our members a most 
interesting article from Dr. F. W. Stansfield on that 
peculiarly interesting section of the Shield Ferns, which 
has been christened the " pulcherrimums " or the beautiful, 
which in their best form they richly deserve, but which 
had their discoverers known of the phenomenon of 
" apospory," which is a characteristic associated with all 
the angulares so named, a more appropriate name in the 
scientific sense would doubtless have been given. We 
have also been favoured with an interesting and amusing 
paper by Mr. W. B. Cranlield, relating to what may be 
termed the "resurrection" treatment of moribund ferns, 
by virtue of which a large number of Mr. Moly's original 
and unique finds have been not only restored to life but 
multiplied into the bargain. We would once more impress 
upon our members our desire that they will help us with 
MSS. relating to their finds and experiences, since the 


250 

Gazette is expressly founded for the publication of records 
of this kind for the general benefit, and it is undoubtedly 
in the power of every thorough-going student of the cult to 
add something to his or her fellow student's knowledge. 
Finally, we should be glad if those members who have not 
yet remitted their subscriptions for the current year, 191 1 -12, 
will do so by an early post in response to the request sent 
herewith. To save reference the subscription is only 
5s., entitling to membership and four issues of the Gazette, 
and such remittance should be made to the Hon. Secretary 
and Editor, 11, Shaa Road, Acton, W. Finally, once 
again, we want more members, and a copy of the Gazette 
will be willingly sent gratis to any Fern lovers likely to 
join. If each member would enlist only one new one, 
the Gazette could be greatly increased, both pictorially and 
otherwise, which is the great objective of 

The Editor. 


OUR FRONTISPIECE. 

In the frontispiece of this issue we give a representation 
of a group of the most striking forms of the Shield Ferns 
(Polystichums), the names of which we append. This 
genus, owing to its thoroughly evergreen nature and the 
wonderful versatility of its varietal types, to say nothing of 
the peculiarly feathery beauty of the plumose forms, ranks 
undoubtedly as the head of the elite of the Fern world, so 
much indeed is this the case that every ardent British 
Fern cultivator is bound sooner or later to become a 
Polystichum enthusiast, and hence ^ve make no apologies 
for the predominance of matter in this issue concerning 
this remarkable family. 

No. I. Polystichum aculeatum acrocladon. 
„ 2. ,, angulare acrocladon. [Gray. 

3. ,, ,, brachiato cristatum 

4. „ aculeatum pulcherrimum (Pinna 

and frond tip). 


251 

No. 5. Polystichum angulare Thompsoniae (Top 

half of frond). 

,, 6. ,, ,, divisilobum cristatum 

Ivery (pinna). 

7. ,, ,, pulcherrimum varie- 

gatum Moly. 

8. ,, „ plumosum Pateyii 

(pinna). 

9. ,, ,, cristatum Wollaston 

(crest). 

10. „ ,, grandiceps Talbot 

(crest). 

11. ,, ,, rotundatum (top half 

of frond). 

The Editor. 


»• 


i> 


}) 


)) 


THE NARRATIVE OF A RESUSCITATED 

COLLECTION. 

I am induced to put pen to paper, firstly in the hope 
that others may profit by my experience, in the second 
place to record the resuscitation of varieties collected by 
the late Mr. James Moly and possibly unknown to the 
majority of Fern hunters. 

At the outset I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness 
to the Editor for his assistance and suggestions of treat- 
ment, without which the experiments would probably have 
ended in failure. 

For some years I had corresponded with the late Mr. 
Moly on subjects ferny and otherwise, and a few years 
before his death he wrote me that, with advancing age and 
the death of old friends, he was unable to look after his 
ferns, and offered me his collection. I need hardly say 
that I at once accepted his offer, but as I was about 
changing my residence, arranged for the ferns to remain in 
situ until I could conveniently remove them. It was not 
until August of 1908 — an exceptionally hot and dry month 


252 

— that I found an opportunity of transferring the coUeG- 
tion to their present quarters. I persuaded my wife and 
one of my daughters to accompany me, and on arriving 
at Axminster we journeyed to Charmouth by the omnibus 
which meets the principal trains, and here we met with our 
first surprise. The coachman, who had to drive a pair 
of horses, manipulate the brake and handle luggage had 
lost one arm, but appeared to be able to discharge his 
duties with alacrity with the aid of one hand and an iron 
hook attached to the other arm. I am afraid the authori- 
ties in some parts of the country would have hesitated to 
grant a driver's license to an; individual so afflicted, but I 
learned that the coachman had driven the omnibus for 
years, and was regarded as an institution. 

On reaching Charmouth I explained my mission to the pro- 
prietor of the hotel, where we had arranged to stay, who bade 
me joy of my quest. Mr. Moly was regarded as, to say the 
least, eccentric, leading the life of a recluse, and no woman 
had been known to pass through his gates, and as my 
wife and daughter with me were proposing to render me some 
assistance, this was not encouraging. 

The next morning I walked to Langmore Manor House 
with a view to reconnoitring, but I was not prepared for 
the task with which I was confronted. What was 
originally a fern paradise was completely overgrown with 
rank weeds, brambles and sapling trees, many of which 
had sprung up through the crowns of old specimens- 
Huge clumps of apparently dead crowns, standing in some 
cases a foot above the ground, others prostrate, and the 
whole place a wilderness of neglect with only here and 
there cultivated patches. I looked round in despair, and 
then departed to purchase mattocks and forks, and to find 
a man to render assistance. That afternoon I commenced 
operations, and for five days we toiled early and late, 
commencing a bed and making a clean sweep of every- 
thing, as it was hopeless to endeavour to make selections. 
Seedlings had sprung up everywhere, and in many cases 


253 

the choice specimens were completely overgrown. The 
task completed, the resources of Charmouth were not equal 
to supplying crates and cases in which to pack the speci- 
mens, and I had to go to Lyme for china crates and 
cases in which to pack the ferns. A quantity of apparently 
dead crowns were packed in sacks, a local trolly was engaged, 
and a railway truck chartered, which in due course 
arrived at Enfield, In a weak moQient I decided to pot 
the whole lot, as being the simplest method of dealing with 
them, but although from time to time I have started on 
some tough propositions, I can safely say that this was, in the 
slang of the day, the frozen limit. Hundreds of pots 
varying in size from large 48 to 12 in., were filled and 
carried on hand-barrows distances varying from 70 to 
100 yards, and stood in rows on either side of walks 
through a spinny bordering the garden. The task 
accomplished, the Editor was invited to inspect the 
result, and whilst revelling in some of the specimens, did not 
enthuse over the handiwork, pointing out that in many 
cases sufficient of the aged caudices had not been 
removed, and expressing doubts as to whether many 
would survive the ordeal, having regard to their weak 
condition. Permanent quarters having been prepared 
during the winter, the following spring they were planted 
out, thus receiving a double check. In the result a few of 
the most robust started with vigour, some made feeble 
growth, a frond or two only appearing, and in the majority 
of cases no sign of life was visible. After repeated 
consultations it was decided that nothing short of drastic 
surgical operations would save or prolong life, and once 
•decided on it was carried into effect without delay. 

The crowns were dug up, and with strong knives the old 
bases were cut away until signs of life were found in the 
caudex ; in many cases crowns 12 inches round were 
reduced to the size of a champagne cork, the fragment thus 
obtained was inserted in a thumb pot plunged in a bed of 
cocoa fibre and covered with a small glass tumbler, and 


254 

when the frame was filled, it was covered with a light after 
giving the contents a good soaking with water. At one 
time we had three gross of tumblers so employed. 

The varieties treated were P. aaikatum and angulare 
Lastreas, filix and pseudo mas, A. f.f. and Scol. vuJgave^ the 
latter being the simplest to deal with, as you can tear them 
to pieces anyhow, and every piece which has any life in it 
will grow if treated properly. Taking the Scolopendvinms 
first, a number of Moly's vamo cvistatwii (figured in Jones's 
'* Nature Prints ") have been raised from bases. The parent 
plant was in a very poor condition, but was recognizable 
(I have also raised from this a number of fine varieties from 
spores). 

Another form of Scot. v. cvistatuin turned up, Sinum, 
various peraferens, some fine undulatums, one a giant form, 
two fine projectums, a crispum called by Moly splendens, 
which Mr. Cordery (Messrs. May's foreman) declar