22 2 FEAWS. 



are large, round, and prominent, of a lively brown, or almost orange 

 colour, and being abundant though quite separate, they give a rich and 

 handsome bordering to the deep green fronds ; the sori ranged like 

 beads along the pinni^, have a striking and lively appearance. The veins 

 are blackish and prettily waved ; the colour of the frond is of a very 

 rich, dark green, smooth and glossy, but bright green on the underside. 

 Some of the fronds bear fruit at an early stage of growth. I have found 

 tiny fronds of three inches in length with fruit dots on the upper pinnules. 

 This species is not very scaly, a few large, loose ragged scales, which 

 soon disappear, may be found on the early developed fronds, and at the 

 junction of the stipes with the root. 



The Sunnner heat curls up the fronds but rain soon refreshes them 

 and revives their verdure. During the heat of the Summer of 1864, large 

 beds of this fern were seen drooping and fading on the rocky soil, but 

 revived again when the showery weather came. The fruit dots are in 

 greatest perfection in the month of September. 



As yet our native Polypodies are confined to four distinct species, 

 and some varieties ; but there is little doubt but that this number will 

 be increased as the knowledge of the fern tribe becomes more general. 

 Already, even in remote inland villages, I find persons eager to know 

 something 7/iore of ferns and native plants ; and collections are being 

 formed among our young ladies ; and even school children bring 

 handfuls of ferns and flowers to ask their names, and be told how to 

 preserve and arrange them. 



This is cheering and pleasant, and should be encouraged among 

 our rising population of a// classes. 



Such knowledge is good and innocent, purifying the mind, enlarging 

 it and leading it upwards from grosser thoughts, and lower tendencies. 



How seldom do we see a real lover of Natural History, especially 

 cultivators of flowers, a drunkard or a profane swearer ? Where the 

 mind of man is thus fed and occupied there is little taste for sensual 

 pleasures. Let us then encourage the study of ferns, and the cultivation 

 of flowers, with an interest in all the productions of the soil, as much as 

 possible among our people. These things are good for the happiness of 

 the young, they lay the foundation for encjuiry, and finally they are 

 serviceable to the country, as they tend to develop its resources in 

 vegetable productions, minerals, and animals— for otk study leads to 

 others — and as yet there is a large field open to discovery, and it is open 

 and free to all who choose to use their eyes and exercise the powers 

 with which (lod has gifted even the weakest among us. 



