vi.] FLOWERLESS, WITH ROOTS, STEMS, LEA VES 83 



attractive objects of study and culture, I venture to say 

 there are several reasons. The first is, that their peculiar 

 beauty and graceful forms are alike irresistible on the 

 mountain side and in the rock garden. Then, again, 

 they are not numerous or difficult to find, the number 

 of native species is probably not more than forty, and, 

 moreover, when found they are easily cultivated, and 

 well adapted for growing in the garden, the greenhouse, 

 or the drawing-room. 



Speaking generally, a Fern may be defined as a plant 

 which bears leaves only and no flowers. The name of 

 their order is Cryptogama, i.e. hidden flowers ; they 

 have organs which produce spores, but the attractive 

 petals are absent, and the spore-cases are hidden away 

 or take strange forms. 



When we meet with a full-grown plant, and examine 

 the under surface of its leaves, and find dust-like patches, 

 circular, or in lines, here and there, we may conclude that 

 plant is a Fern, for the leaves of plants which bear flowers 

 do not bear these patches of brown dust. 



Ferns, then, are flowerless plants, with roots, stems, 

 and leaves, and the leaves generally bear on the lower 

 surface the spores by which they ultimately reproduce 

 themselves. 



The roots are fibrous or thread-like, and these insinuate 

 themselves between the stones or turf or wooden fibre 

 or sandy loam which lie near them. 



The stem of our native Ferns seldom rises above the 

 surface, though in some exotics it reaches a height of 



