146 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



In the space at command it is not of the ashes, which were used by soap 



possible to enter into detail even to the makers and glass makers. Medicinal 



extent of briefly indicating the indi- virtues, generally as vermifuges, are also 



vidual characters of the various British attributed to several ferns. Various 



ferns. From the giant royal fern to the fern preparations hold a place in rural 



little native maidenhair or inconspicu- medicine, and the root of Athyrium 



ous adder's tongue they are all dear Filix-foemina is reputed to have formed 



to the enthusiast, and in the majority the chief part of " Madame Nouffer's 



of instances his enthusiasm is not celebrated remedy for the tape-worm." 



misplaced. Their distribution in Great Yet another curious use for a fern is 



Britain is very varied, some species that the spleenwort is used as a bait 



being exceedingly rare and confined for rock-cod fishing on the coast of 



to a few localities, while others are Wales. 



common almost everywhere. Many The hardy ferns generally, both 

 of them are widely distributed in other deciduous and evergreen, are deservous 

 countries, for example, the Tunbridge of a more prominent place in the garden 

 filmy fern is a native of France, Ger- than is commonly given to them, 

 many, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Nor- Certainly they are grown to a consider- 

 way, Sweden, the Azores, Madeira, able extent. It is a common practice 

 India, Mauritius, Chili, Brazil, Austra- to sally forth on the last day of a 

 lia, New Zealand and the Cape of Good country holiday and dig up a basketful 

 Hope, while there are few plants of any of unfortunate ferns which are after- 

 description more ubiquitous than is wards stuck in on the shady side of 

 the common brake fern. a suburban garden, where they bear 



In addition to their mournfully their hard lot very bravely ; but this 



apparent use in materially contributing is not growing ferns as they should be 



to the support of the country-side grown. Although there are sun-loving 



" moucher," the British ferns are pos- ferns, the common belief that they are 



sessedof certain other economic values, shade-loving plants is in the main a 



For example, the fronds of the brake correct one. We consider the ideal 



fern have so many uses that their position for a collection of the larger 



harvesting is quite an industry, and ferns to be on a sloping bank, in a dell, 



the fronds of the brake and male ferns which is to some extent overhung by 



used to be burnt together for the sake trees. Besides providing shelter, the 



