FERNS. 



183 



FERNS AND FERN-LIKE LBAF. 



CHAPTER II. 



FERNS. 



In almost any shad- 

 ed woodland, ferns 

 wave their graceful 

 plumes, and no design 

 or pattern of tapestry 

 ever imitated one-half 

 the beauty of their del- 

 icate outlines. The 

 little ball unfolds it- 

 self as if by magic, 

 and a fairy-like leaf of 

 light-green appears. 

 Moist earth and sum- 

 mer heat make larger 

 fronds and deeper 

 green ; autumn turns 

 some a sober brown, 

 and winter frosts often 

 bleach them to snowy 

 whiteness, as if to end 

 in purity a growth so 

 beautiful. Taste and 

 skill in decoration, add 

 to the beauty of ferns, 

 but the most careless 

 grouping or indiffer- 

 ent handling cannot 

 destroy their exquisite 

 beauty of form or grace 

 of outline. 



They are abundant 

 in the loamy soil of 

 shaded wood - lands. 



