WINTER FERN-HUNTING 



These looked so tiny as compared with 

 the mature ferns, but were so erect and 

 confident, so fresh and green and very 

 much alive though the temperature about 

 them night after night had been far 

 below freezing and their roots then stood 

 in ice, that it was worth a journey, just 

 to look at them. How their tender tis- 

 sues had stood the temperature of ten 

 above zero that had surrounded them a 

 fe\v nights before is more than I can 

 answer. The faintest touch of frost kills 

 the fronds of the great seemingly tough 

 cinnamon and ostrich ferns. Yet these 

 dainty little plants of Nephr odium spinu- 

 losum with their miniature fronds of 

 tender lacework had not even wilted or 

 cowered before deep and continued cold 

 as had the stalks of their elders of the 

 same species, but stood erect, nonchalant 

 and seemingly eagerly growing still. 

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