392 PROPERTIES AND USES. 



case the young- fronds were used, being cut when very 

 young, cooked and eaten as asparagus. He says, "I 

 took it exclusively as a dinner vegetable for more than a 

 month, no objection arising except that the last week or 

 two I thought it was slightly astringent. It tastes like 

 asparagus, and is very cooling and suitable for salt pro- 

 visions." Although such is the case this article has not 

 yet appeared in the London vegetable markets. 



In the southern hemisphere 0. esculenta takes the place 

 of 0. aquilina in the northern. In Australia and New 

 Zealand it forms a great part of the food of the aboriginal 

 natives, but, like other plants that contain only starch, it is 

 incapable of supporting life without the addition of some 

 other substance containing nitrogenous matter. Since the 

 colonization of these countries, and the introduction of the 

 potato and corn, it will ere long cease to be an article of food. 



In some parts of this country it is a vulgar belief that 

 the burning of Fern brings down rain, of which the follow- 

 ing is a curious illustration. In a volume containing a 

 miscellaneous collection by Dr. Richard Pocock, in the 

 British Museum, is the copy of a letter written by Philip 

 Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain, to 

 the Sheriff of Staffordshire. It is as follows : 



" Sir, His Majesty taking notice that the burning of 

 Feme doth draw down rain, and being desirous that the 

 country and himself may enjoy fair weather as long as he 

 remains in these parts, his Majesty has commanded me to 

 write to you to cause all burning of Fern to be forborne 

 until his Majesty be past the country. Wherein not 

 doubting but the consideration of their own interest as well 

 as of his Majesty's will invite the country to a ready ob- 

 servance of this his Majesty's commands, I rest, your very 



loving friend, 



"PEMBROKE and MONTGOMERY." 



