242 NOTES ON BRITISH FERNS. 



information which I have thus obtained, valuable as it now 

 is, would have been still more so had I possessed it previ- 

 ously to the appearance of the monograph ; for a detached 

 Appendix is nearly sure to be lost, and if I refrain altogether 

 from publishing, in the chimerical hope of a second edition, 

 the loss seems equally certain ; I therefore gladly avail my- 

 self of your kind pennission, to insert in the ' Magazine of 

 Natural History ' those memoranda which appear more par- 

 ticularly interesting. 



I am. Sir, 



Your's &c., 



EDWARD NEWMAN. 



45, Wellclose Square, 

 April 13, 1840. 



Note 1. Pteris aquilina of Authors. 



I am indebted to Mr. Bladon, of Pont-y-pool, for the fol- 

 lowing note. 



"In many of the open mountainous parts of Wales, where 

 it grows abundantly, the Brakes is cut down in the summer, 

 and after being well dried, is burned by the cottagers in large 

 heaps, for the sake of the alkali contained in the ashes: when 

 sufficiently burned, enough salt-water is sprinkled on the 

 ashes to make them adhere together, when they are rolled 

 into roimd balls, about two inches, or two-and-a-half in dia- 

 meter. These balls are thoroughly dried, and carried about 

 the neighboumood where they are made, for sale in the mar- 

 kets ; and they are also frequently kept by shopkeepers, to 

 supply their customers. The price of these balls varies in 

 different seasons, from 3c?. to 8^. per dozen. They are very 

 much prized by some housewives, for their utility in the 

 wash-house, in economizing the use of soap. When about 

 to be used they are put into the fire, and when heated to a 

 red heat, are taken out and thrown into a tub of water ; the 

 water, in the course of an hour or so, becomes a strong ley, 

 and is then fit for use." 



Note 2. Lastrma rigida. Presl. 



I am indebted to Mr. J. Tatham, Jun., of Settle, in York- 

 shire, for an abundant supply of Lastr(Ba rigida, the fronds 

 in a dried, the roots in a growing state. The frond appears 

 to be early deciduous, no trace of it remaining on the roots 

 which I have received. It grows abundantly in the fissures of 



