42 PALMER : 



Still there, but in a semi-cultivated state, and there are few 

 ferns (of any kind ) to be found. ' ' The fern was first described 

 by Mr. Scott in the "Gardeners' Monthly" for September, 

 1865. The citation of the original description, however, is 

 given: " R. R. Scott, Journ. Roy. Hort. Soc, 87, 1866," in 

 Britton and Brown's " Illustrated Flora." Asa Gray, in his 

 "Manual," edition published in 1880, stated that it grew 

 "on limestone cliffs on the Schuylkill, near Philadelphia." 

 In subsequent editions, e. g. 1889, we find : " Limestone cliffs, 

 Conn, and Penn. and southward; very rare * * ." So, 

 also, Britton and Brown*: "On limestone, Connecticut to 

 Indiana, south to Alabama. Rare and local, except in the 

 last named locality." Lastly, Keller and Brownf : "Lime- 

 stone" — with recent (?) location: "East side of Schuyl- 

 kill," on the authority of Charles E. Smith, or on the 

 strength of specimens so labeled in his herbarium. 



It must be so — the species must grow on limestone. But 

 where are these cliffs of limestone on the east bank of the 

 Schuylkill ? Where are there any limestone cliffs, anywhere, 

 on either bank of the Schuylkill, "near Philadelphia," or 

 "near Manayunk," as the thing has been variously stated ? 

 The writer has looked for such during the last twenty-five 

 years — sought them carefully, and with tears. Barring 

 some strange misunderstanding, the very nearest limestone 

 cliffs are far awa}- up river at the eastern extension of Chester 

 Valley. So say the geological maps, so say all of us who 

 have tramped, and peered, and cracked rocks up and down 

 the Schuylkill. It is strange. 



It mends matters not at all, that after one has at last 

 located the nearest limestone cliffs, has with much labor 

 scrambled all over them and made minute search into their 

 every cranny, he shall find himself, at sundown, still with- 

 out the fern, and in the immediate vicinity of the celebrated 



* The "Illustrated Flora" was published in 1896. 

 t " Flora of Philadelphia," p. 11. 



