FERN GROWING 3 



the idea that there was any good end to be attained ; and Mr. 

 Mapplebeck, of Bronddwynant, Dolgelly ; Mr. Fox, of Brisling- 

 ton ; and Colonel Jones, of Clifton, were the first three to 

 follow the author's example, which they all did with marked 

 success. The late Dr. Lyall, of Newburgh ; Messrs. Sang, 

 of Kirkcaldy ; Mr. Druery, of Fernholme ; Mr. Phillips, of 

 Belfast ; Messrs. Stansfield, of Sale ; the late Major Cowburn, 

 of Dennel Hill, and others took to multiple sowing a few years 

 ago. There was great promise in what Major Cowburn did ; 

 the care, attention, and ability which was so characteristic 

 of him bore a plentiful harvest ; but, alas ! death suddenly 

 ended this brief but brilliant career. Amongst those who 

 devoted themselves to what has been termed Fern-hunting, 

 i.e., a search in order to discover new wild varieties, none 

 have been so successful as Mr. James Moly, of Langmoor, 

 near Charmouth ; Mr. Wills, of Thornscombe ; the Rev. 

 Charles Padley, of Bulwell Hall, Nottinghamshire ; Mr. James, 

 of Vauvert, Guernsey ; Mr. G. B. Wollaston, of Bishops Well, 

 Chislehurst ; Mr. J. M. Barnes, of Levens, Milnthorpe ; Mr. 

 Clapham, Scarborough ; Mr. W. B. Boyd, Midlothian ; Mr. 

 G. Whitwell, Kendal ; Mr. T. Airey ; Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson, 

 of Ulverston; Mr. W. H. Phillips, of Belfast; Mr. R. Lloyd 

 Praeger, of Holy wood ; and last, though not least, Mr. Forster, 

 of Salford. 



In former days there were not gangs of Fern robbers 

 whose everyday business was to practically destroy in any 

 locality what they could find. Twenty-five years ago there 

 were many acres of woods at Hackness, near Scarborough, 

 crowded with Nephrodium cemulum, and now it is difficult 

 to find a plant ; the Glastonbury district of Osmunda regalis 

 is being rapidly destroyed ; even the Ben Lawers habitat of 

 the Holly Fern has been invaded by these marauders. Ferns 

 are regularly hawked about the streets of our towns by men 

 and even women who are denuding the country of its Ferns. 



