10 AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL 
Specimens growing in exposed places are apt to have 
spatulate, short fronds and often grow in dense mats, 
nearly prostrate and covering the ground almost as 
closely as grass upon a well kept lawn. 
The place to look for the more interesting ones may 
be quite close by, in the wide seams between rocks, if it 
is a level section that is shaded, else along the edge of 
ledges, or perhaps down the bank, either on outcropping 
rocks or loose ones of the talus. 
It loves to grow on the large rocks that occur in 
tumbled confusion in ravines, moss covered, and pro- 
tected from direct sunlight by the banks above, trees oF 
shrubbery. Once ina while a large flat detached rock 
will be found while roaming through the woods, where 
the finest kind of a colony of walking ferns may be 
found, completely covering its top, and those along the 
edges drooping down the sides, a joy to look at and 
easy to search for unusual forms. It is true that some 
Stations yield only normal forms, but quite close by 
another may be rich in variant forms. Some parent 
fern of long ago, having a marked tendency to produce 
abnormal fronds and possessing proper vitality, left its 
impress upon the neighborhood as shown by the present 
day finds. For instance, when one locates fronds nor- 
mal on one side at the base and with a distinct branch 
or auricle on the other side, this peculiarity may COD 
fidently be looked for anywhere within a range of 50 « 
100 feet. The bulk of the fronds on some ferns will 
show this peculiarity, as will also some show lobes 0 
both sides in the particular area where they occur. Fork- 
ing fronds are much more apt to occur singly, or at most 
but two or three together. 
This is all dry reading. Just go out and find one good 
Sport frond and you will be thrilled a hundred times mor 
than by ever receiving a pressed one from some one else. 
The beauty, charm and pleasure come from first ham 
experiences in nature’s own realm. 
