82 FERNS THEIR NATURE AND CLASSES [CH. 



CHAPTER VI 



FERNS THEIR NATURE AND CLASSES 



THERE are few plants so generally popular, and none so 

 widely distributed over our earth, as Ferns. They avoid 

 the Arctic Zone, but to all other regions they readily 

 adapt themselves. In some countries they are equal in 

 number to one-ninth of all the known flowering plants, to 

 none of which they claim any relationship. In fact, they 

 must belong to another era than ours probably a survival 

 of an older world, as the conditions under which they 

 live and thrive are the very reverse of those which are 

 conducive to the well-being of animals like ourselves. 

 Moist steamy surroundings are their paradise, and for 

 this reason all the hardiest Ferns known may be grown 

 in the same high temperature as the most delicate 

 exotic. 



It may be helpful to those who love Ferns, and whose 

 knowledge of their structure and habits is yet limited, 

 if in this chapter I say something concerning a few of 

 our better known Ferns, promising not to intrude very 

 far on the domain of the botanist or the specialist, 

 and I am not without hope that even an elementary 

 acquaintance with their classification may help to increase 

 the interest and pleasure of some amateurs. 



If it should be asked why our British Ferns are such 



