58 THE HORSETAILS. 



Circle, but apparently does not occur in the United 

 States west of the Rocky Mountains. It is also found 

 in the northern parts of both Europe and Asia. It 

 delights in rich moist soil, its favourite haunts being 

 deep woodlands and the banks of shaded streams. It 

 is rarely if ever found in fields, though it may persist in 

 pastures and swamps for some time after the sheltering 

 'trees have been removed. Like the field horsetail, it is 

 sometimes called " bottle-brush " in allusion to its fronds. 

 It has the reputation of fruiting sparingly, and the fruit- 

 ing-spikes are certainly not so abundant as those of 

 other species when the plant grows in deep shade, 

 though in exposed positions they may always be found 

 in season. Plants that extend their bounds by root- 

 stocks or bulbs usually produce few seeds or spores, and 

 our plant seems to be no exception to the rule. Accord- 

 ing to Withering, horses are fond of this species, and in 

 the north of Europe it is said to be sometimes pre- 

 served for winter fodder. 



The wood horsetail readily adapts itself to a life in 

 the fern garden if given a fat soil and plenty of shade 

 and moisture. It spreads nearly as rapidly as the field 

 horsetail and presents a far more attractive appearance. 

 It may also be grown in the greenhouse. In such situ- 

 ations the rootstocks, being prevented from following 

 their inclination to spread about, send up great num- 

 bers of the graceful, emerald-green fronds that are the 

 delight of all who see them. 



The Water Horsetail. 



Of all our American equisetums the water horsetail 

 (Equisetum flnviatile) is undoubtedly first to start into 

 growth each spring, but, owing to the length of stem it 



