BRITTON: FERN COLLECTING IN CUBA | 75 
Fern collecting in Cuba 
ELIZABETH G. BRITTON 
A year ago in March we were camping in the Trinidad 
Mountains of the Province of Santa Clara, Cuba, col- 
lecting for the New York Botanical n. We 
secured a pack train of mules and horses, assistants and 
provisions at or near Cienfuegos, turned our backs on 
hotels and “all the comforts of home,” and for two weeks 
lived in the wilderness, among the natives, though not 
with them. e met nothing but kindness and courtesy; 
for they shared their provisions with us even to the — 
igr fighting-cock eggs, which are worth their 
weight i in silver if not in gold. They acted as guides and 
sac pay for their services, treated us as honored 
ests; we were not disturbed in our camps and lost 
ot nothing oe time, ween is not a commer- 
cial commodity. a 
_ The water supply of Cotas comes ae ee a = 
Saniiin: River, and we made our way first to the Falls, 
about twenty miles east from the city. This is a most 
picturesque spot, for on the dripping ledges under the — 
falls were pendent m masses of the pale —- amaee 
Adiantum capillus-ve eris t and 
‘swaying about like emeral 
Maxon. This spot is rich i 
for besides the common and ex¢ 
- jragile we found A tenerum, A, 
oleucum, and A. 
