vi] ABOUT A FERN. 97 
be found without its cluster of seedling ferns, In the 
deep lanes, too, where high hedge-banks, with their 
giant smooth-stemmed beeches, shut out the mid- 
day sun, we find them lighting up the gloomy spots. 
Everywhere, in fact, where there is shade and mois- 
ture, there are ferns; and so great has grown the 
attachment of those who dwell in towns to the ferns 
that we bring them tenderly home by the roots, and 
as tenderly and lovingly care for them, bringing the 
soft rich leaf-mould and peat in which to grow them, 
carefully shutting out the mid-day sun and giving 
them copious draughts of water. The lovers and 
cultivators of ferns in towns may now be numbered 
by thousands, but of these how many are acquainted 
with the structure and early life of their charming 
pets? How many, indeed, know the real character 
of these plants, their proper position in the vegetable 
kingdom? Of course, it is not necessary that one 
should have a botanical training to enable him or her 
to appreciate the beautiful in Nature; but the bota- 
nical training, or a mere rudimentary knowledge of 
botany, will enable one to discover hidden beauties, 
and wonders not thought of by the mere superficial 
observer. Just as in passing along a country lane, 
through a wood, or over a hillside, your superficial 
observer sees but the big trees and the hawthorn and 
blackberry of the hedges, with the masses of stinging 
nettle and dock in the ditch below, or the tall stately 
foxgloves rising above the dark clumps of gorse on 
the hillside. If he mount to the top, he sees nothing 
but heather and blaeberry and sky and distant land- 
scape; but to the enthusiastic lover of Nature, who 
G 
