THE MYRTLE. 235 



The Sweet-Fern is a peculiar shrub, branching in such 

 a manner as to form a perfect miniature tree, beautifully 

 ramified with a neatly rounded head. The leaves are 

 agreeably aromatic, and shaped unlike those of any other 

 phenogamous plant, resembling a true fern-leaf, having 

 alternate indentations that extend not quite to the midrib. 

 It is a very grateful, not to say beautiful, ornament of our 

 dry hills and pastures, and is more admired than any 

 other equally homely shrub in our woods. 



