FERNS. 35 



were turned inwards, so that in many of the fronds those 

 ranged on either side the stem touched one another at the 

 points. Numerous fronds with broader pinnae, surround- 

 ing these, were bowed outwards, or lay quite flat on the 

 ground. None of these fronds had any seed upon them ; 

 the old rule of the pre-eminence of the fruitful fronds 

 was still in force ! The 

 Ions narrow seed-masses had 

 coverings which opened to- 

 wards the centre of the leaf- 



BLECHNUM. 



lets. This circumstance, with 



that of the upright fruitful and recumbent barren fronds, 

 proved the plant to be the Hard-Fern (Blechnum boreale, 

 Plate III., Jig. 10), so common in all our hilly districts, 

 but welcome for its beauty wherever it occurs. It is 

 sometimes called Fox-Fern, because of its odour, but it 

 has no reason to feel flattered by the compliment. 



Of course it was by no mere chance that I had found 

 the Ferns so much in the order of their arrangements. I 

 had shut my eyes to the species that I was not ready for. 

 The Hard-Fern was in the wood at Kisdon, but I knew 

 it was not yet time for it. The Lastreas grew side by 

 side with the Polypodies, but I turned away from them 

 as soon as I was convinced that they did not belong to 

 the group I was in search of. I found this plan succeeded 

 in keeping my mind clear. 



But such a course as this would not act well in a dis- 

 trict where there are but few Ferns. Then it would be 

 best to take every variety you can find, and dry them, 

 and when assembled bring your book to your specimens, 

 use your lens, and patiently observe and compare. The 



