1 86 mature Studies in Berkshire. 



what they love to call the " filices." The thirst for 

 knowledge, however, was on me, and when, a few 

 years later, on these Berkshire roadsides I found the 

 ferns more luxuriant than ever, and in larger variety, 

 the determination seized me to know something about 

 them, and, on the foundation laid for me by the wise 

 woman of Tamworth, 1 went to work to build a little 

 larger information. And it is for the encouragement 

 of those who still stand outside this delightful cir- 

 cle of acquaintance and despair of ever gaining an 

 introduction, that I record this personal experience, 

 and some suggestions for the benefit of those who 

 love the ferns, but know them not. 



They are not hard to become acquainted with. If 

 one begins at the beginning, and works patiently, a 

 few weeks will give him a fair acquaintance with 

 the common ferns. A good magnifying-glass is all 

 the equipment which is absolutely necessary ; and 

 Gray's Manual is a good enough guide to start 

 with. Then, if one knows one or two ferns to be- 

 gin upon, let him take them as examples and enter 

 upon his course of study. 



The key to the identity of the fern is the spore- 

 case upon the under side of the frond. Here are 

 ripened the spores which, falling into the ground, 

 mature into the true seeds of the plant ; and the ferns 

 are classified according to the shape of these " sori," 

 as they are called ; and the way in which they are 

 covered, and their arrangement upon the divisions 

 of the frond distinguish the varieties from one 



