82 BRISTLE PERN. 



looking, and clothed with pointed scales. The seed- 

 cup in the fertile frond takes the place of a fork of 

 the pinnule, having a hair or spike projecting from 

 the centre. 



This exceedingly beautiful and delicate fern is 

 found only in Ireland, though it is said to have grown 

 in Yorkshire. The Turk Waterfall, near Killarney, 

 is the most celebrated locality for it ; where, amidst 

 the dripping rocks and the spray of the water, it 

 forms a verdant drapery most charming to behold ; 

 but there are other stations in Ireland where it is 

 found by botanists. At Blackstones, in the county of 

 Kerry, it was discovered by two gentlemen growing 

 in a wild and romantic cave, the rocky walls of 

 which had been for ages covered with its overlapping 

 fronds, forming a mass of the loveliest green j 

 strongly contrasting with the darker and more sombre 

 hue of the Killarney plant. This pretty fern is 

 abundant in the island of Madeira, and is found in 

 the West Indies and the islands of the North 

 Atlantic. 



From its peculiarly membranous texture, and mois- 

 ture-loving nature, there have always appeared to be 

 difficulties in the way of the cultivation of this fern. 

 Mr. Ward's invention, however, has removed all these 

 objections, and this beautiful fern is peculiarly suc- 

 cessful in his closed cases. In his little book he gives 

 interesting particulars concerning his experiments 

 with this delicate little fern, and his perfect success in 

 overcoming apparent difficulties. 



He was induced to commence his experiments with 



