American Fern Journal 65 



Filix fragilis (L.) Underw. Shasta Springs. 

 Isoetes lacustris L. Castle Lake. 



FULLERTON, CaL. 



Fern hunting in Florida, in the phosphate 



country. 



M. A. Noble 



In the gently rolling country lying to the south of Lake 

 Tsala Apopka, for miles and miles, the only fern growing 

 on the surface is the Pteridium aquilhnim var. caudatunu 

 The soil is classed as "rolling pineland" by the State 

 Geological Survey, and it has considerable oak and other 

 hardwood growth. Old settlers and native Floridians 

 term it "Oak Ridges." For ten or fifteen miles south 

 from the lake, this is the type of land, extending six or 



seven miles eastward to the rich "hammock" lands 



lying along the Withlacoochee River, and westward 



for a still further distance. 



the region is honeycombed with prospect hole-, dug 

 by miners in search of phosphate of lime rock. Small 

 holes appear everywhere at a distance of fifty feet apart. 

 These holes measure a few inches across, and penetrate 

 the earth from a few feet to thirty or even sixty. 

 Not as frequent, but still quite numerous, are holes as 

 wide as a common well, and of the same depth as the 

 first-named. For the protection of stock, the law enjoins 

 that these holes should be filled up, or covered. Small 

 logs are usually laid across the top— a covering soon de- 

 cayed, and more dangerous than the open well. 



Down these well holes grow most tempting ferns, 

 pr«'«-n and luxuriant on account of the dampness. Here 



;ire to be found Polystichum acrosti chokies, Aapleniwn 



POrvttlum, Woodwardia areolata and virginicn, Dryop- 

 teris patens, and occasionally, but very seldom, Phle- 



bodium aw< urn and Asplenium platyneuron. 



