E PROPERTIES AND USES. 
£ 
case the young fronds were used, being cut when very | 
young, cooked and eaten as asparagus. He says, “I 
took it exclusively as a dinner vegetable for more than a 
month, no objection arising except that the last week or 
two I thought it was slightly astringent. It tastes like 
asparagus, and is very cooling and suitable for salt pro- 
visions.” Although such is the case this article has not 
[yet appeared in the London vegetable markets. 
l 
~ Country and himself may enjoy fair weather as long as he - 
~ remains in these parts, his Majesty has commanded me- 
e | 
2 ps but the consideration of their own interest as well | 
In the southern hemisphere O. esculenta takes the place 
of O. aquilina in the northern, In Australia and New | 
Zealand it forms a great part of the food of the aboriginal 
natives, but, like other plants that contain only starch, it is 
incapable of supporting life without the addition of some 
other substance containing nitrogenous matter. Since the 
colonization of these countries, and the introduction of the ` ` : 
potato and corn, it will ere long cease to be an article of food, 
In some parts of this country it is a vulgar belief that 
the burning of Fern brings down rain, of which the follow- 
ing is a curious illustration, In a volume containing a 
miscellaneous collection by Dr. Richard Pocock, in the 
British Museum, is the copy of a letter written by Phila 
Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain, to * 
the Sheriff of Staffordshire. It is as follows :— 
"Sir,—His Majesty taking notice that the burning of 
Ferne doth draw down rain, and being desirous that the 
write to you to cause all burning of Fern to be forborne 
until his Majesty be past the country. Wherein not 
as of his Majesty’s will invite the country to a ready. ob- 
'Servance of this his Majesty's commands, I neh Së: me 
ew ies 
:  PrMpROKE and Weem? 
