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THE FANTASIES OF FERNS 



These woods are carpeted chiefly by the Lady 

 Fern, the common Fern of thickets and moist tan- 

 gles. It also follows stone walls with its twice - 

 parted feathery fronds, which often rival Silver 

 Spleenwort in height. The Lady Fern is es- 

 sentially graceful and of a lace -like texture, 

 the stems are often somewhat colored, 

 varying from green to yellow, with a 

 pink cast. In late Summer the fronds 

 themselves take brownish and golden 

 tints, which give them added land- 

 scape value. The spore cases are 

 slightly crescent-shaped, and curve 

 outward from the veins that hold 



