tKey Kave suffered m the last years from tke crowds of excursionists wKo 

 nave tramped tnem down, or pulled tnem up only to throw tKem away on 

 the nome trip. Tw^enty-five years ago tke fragrant fern was so common 

 tKat it w^as dug up and sent away ty tke basketsful. Specimens in old herbar- 

 iums, like that of I. A. Lapkam, Wisconsin's early naturalist, wko, kack in 

 tke 50 s made a collection of tke ferns of tke Dells, skow leaves six or 

 cigkt inckes long. Now^ one may searck all day and consider kimself in luck 

 if ke finds a single tiny plant. Tke raising of tke water ky tke dam 

 skortens up tke ravines and restricts tkeir kaunts. It is koped tkat tke 

 tkougktfulness and moderation of coming generations of visitors will save 

 tkem from furtker destruction. Tkis skort account is intended to kelp tke 

 beginner to a rurtker enjoyment and appreciation of tke ferns, not tke least 

 or tke attractions of tke Dells of tke Wisconsin. 



Enougk of structure and terminology skould be mastered to get at least 

 a speaking acquaintance witk tke ferns, and tkat is all tkat is attempted kere. 

 Tke more complex study of development and reproduction is omitted. 



Tke leaf, or frond, is tke distinctive part of tke fern. It is not essen- 

 tially different from tke leaf of a flowering plant. Very often it is muck 

 divided or cut (compound), and to tkis ckaracter it owes muck of its grace 

 and delicacy. Tkere is usually a large scaly underground stem, or rootstock, 

 from wkick tke leaves and roots grow. Tke primary divisions of tke blade 

 are called pinnae, and subdivisions of tke pinnae are called pinnules. Fern 

 leaves are ckaracterized by tke presence kere of tke plant s scores, or repro- 



Puge Si^ 



