THE FERN BUDS OR CROSIERS 243 



woolly, with scales instead of hairs, and are thus well blanketed. 

 Some botanists object to the comparison of the woolly or fuzzy 

 clothing of young plants with the blankets of human infants. It 

 is true that the young plant is not kept at a higher temperature 

 by this covering; but because of it, transpiration which is a cooling 

 process is prevented, and thus the plant is kept warmer. When the 

 fern commences to grow, it stretches up and seems to lean over 

 backward in its effort to be bigger. First the main stem, or rachis, 

 loosens its coil; but before this is completed, the pinnae, which are 

 coiled at right angles to the main stem, begin to unfold; a little 

 later the pinnules, which are folded at right angles to the pinnae, 

 loosen and seem to stretch and yawn before taking a look at the 

 world which they have just entered ; it may be several days before 

 all signs of the complex coiling disappear. The crosiers of the 

 bracken are queer looking creatures, soon developing three claws 

 which some people say look like the talons of an eagle; and so 

 intricate is the action of their multitudinous spirals, that to watch 

 them unfolding impresses one as being in the presence of a miracle. 



Fern Song 



Dance to the beat of the rain, little Fern 



And spread out your palms again, 



And say, "Tho' the sun 



Hath my vesture spun. 



He had labored, alas, in vain, 



But for the shade 



That the cloud hath made, 



And the gift of the Dew and the Rain." 



Then laugh and upturn 



All your fronds, little Fern, 



And rejoice in the beat of the rain! 



— ^JoHN B. Tabb. 



