100 NATURE STUDY MADE EASY 



LESSON XXXIV 



FERNS 



After a long walk on a hot summer's day, have you ever stopped 

 and rested in a cool, shady place, by the side of a rippling stream 

 of water? Were you not glad to rest there? 



How refreshing was the sight of the sparkling water, and the 

 soft green grass ! How pleasant was the gentle swaying of the 

 leaves on the tall trees. It rested and soothed you. 



Around you grew pretty green leaves, and at your feet was a 

 carpet of cool moss. On your right was a bank overgrown with 



lace ferns. The ferns and mosses know 

 the shady, moist places. We shall 

 always find them there. 



What a variety there is ! The cu- 

 rious hart's tongue juts out from the 

 joints in the stone wall, the delicate 

 maidenhair growing in its shadow. 



MAIDENHAIR FERN, SHOWING 



FRUIT Over in the woods yonder is the hardy 



bracken fern, filling the dark places with green. 



Though they do not bear pretty, colored flowers, there are 

 no plants we love better than ferns. The graceful forms and deli- 

 cate fronds delight us, and the soft green of their leaves rests us. 

 We like to place them on our tables and about our homes. 



Ferns do not propagate themselves like beans and peas. No, 



