1 6 FERNS 



mens from available genera in order to learn 

 how to uproot others without disturbing the 

 growth by loosening the soil about the plants. 

 For instance, the root growths of the osmun- 

 das are a dense mass of wiry, fibrous matter 

 apparently anchored to all creation; the 

 interrupted fern (OsmunJa Claytoniand) is 

 especially trying, for the thickened rootstock, 

 massive, with imbricated base stalks, clings 

 so tenaciously to the earth that the amateur 

 collector will gravely assure you on his second 

 trip that "the proper kit for the business 

 consists of a spade, an axe and a cross-cut 

 saw." However, the game is really worth 

 the candle, for once taken up and carefully 

 reset these ferns readily establish themselves, 

 even in a different soil, and require no further 

 attention. 



The most regal member of the fern family, 

 the ostrich fern {Matteuccia Struthtopteris), 

 is less difficult to transplant because the 

 short, thickened caudex is firmly anchored 

 to the earth by slender stolons, all heavily 

 fringed with delicate rootlets. A circle should 



