RARE LOCAL FERNS. 4I 



water. But during the wet months all this tract is found to 

 be more or less inundated, and so we are able to understand 

 how the fern, with its disposition what it is, can successfully 

 bring around the cycle of the seasons. It is a fine, large, 

 ornamental fern, and we shall by no means relish the inevi- 

 table, though perhaps not imminent, changes that the future 

 has in store for Tinicum — changes that will wipe out this 

 fern, and with it the purple lady slipper, Nuttall's lobelia, the 

 Turk's cap lily, and a dozen other treasures that Tinicum has 

 cherished since ancient times. 



We come to Asplcnium cbenoides. This is not (to speak 

 literally) an easy thing to do, for the species, if species it is, 

 must be counted as among the rarest of native ferns. It has, 

 like Aspleniiim pinnatifidum , a special local interest, because 

 it was first discovered in the vicinity of Philadelphia. Mr. 

 R. R. Scott,''-' born in Belfast, Ireland, was a lover of botany 

 from his youth. He was at one time connected with the cele- 

 brated Kew Gardens. Some time prior to 1852 he came to 

 Philadelphia and found a situation with Robert Buist. Shortly 

 thereafter he began issuing the first horticultural journal of 

 that city, "The Philadelphia Florist." This publication, 

 which survived for three years, was of a high order of merit, 

 and Mr. Scott's pleasing style and his fund of general know- 

 ledge added much to its charm. He removed to New York 

 in 1857, returning to Philadelphia in i860. At this time he 

 became head gardener to an estate on the west bank of the 

 Schuylkill, and in the immediate vicinity he discovered, in 

 1862, the fern of ferns, Aspleniiun ebenoidcs. From Mr. 

 James G. Scott, of Germantown, a son of the discoverer, it is 

 learned that the location was " on the estate of Algernon P. 

 Roberts," which lies "just back of the Pencoyd Iron Works, 

 but the roadway to West Laurel Hill Cemeter>' now covers 

 the exact spot." Mr Scott adds: " The strip of woodland is 



* For the biographical facts as to Mr. Scott we are indelited to the 

 "Fern Bulletin" of April, 1903. 



