90 THE WOODLANDS. 



Less common than any of these is the Shield fern, 1 

 both on hedge-banks and in woods. It is quite dis- 

 tinct in its habit of growth, and comparatively smaller. 



Of course the common polypody will be seen in old 

 forests and woods on pollard trunks. 



The Hart's Tongue, 2 with its glossy green, smooth 

 fronds, like green ribbons, has sometimes been called 

 the Seaweed fern. It loves moisture, combined with 

 shade, but is very indiscriminate in its choice of 

 locality. In some woods we have remarked it in 

 great profusion, in others scarce a frond could be seen. 

 Up an old wall, down a well, on a bank, under a 

 rotten stump, it would be difficult to name all the 

 possible places for this erratic fern. 



The Hard fern, 3 or Rough Spleenwort, as it was 

 called in olden times, will often retain some of its 

 fronds green throughout the winter. Damp situations 

 in woods, as well as heaths, sometimes furnish this 

 plant plentifully, but it is by no means so success- 

 fully transplanted as the Hart's-tongue, and will often 

 die off under cultivation. 



Those who would make a botanical collection of 

 ferns must select clean perfect fronds which are fully 

 mature, taking care that they are well in fruit, that is, 

 that the clusters of spores are formed on the under 

 surface. The entire length of the stipe, or foot-stalk, 

 should also be secured down to its point of attach- 

 ment. These fronds may be dried between sheets of 

 bibulous paper in the same manner as other plants. 



1 Polystichtim angulare. 3 Blechnum spicant. 



5 Scolopendrium vidgare. 



