Ferns and Fern Culture. 19 
their fronds as trees do through their leaves, so that 
cutting off fronds injures them, just as human beings are 
injured when by disease their lungs and digestive organs 
are unable to perform their functions. From these causes 
weakness, and eventually death, ‘ensues. A recognition 
of this fact will enable many to understand why their 
OsMUNDA CLAYTONIANA. 
(Showing fertile and barren fronds.) 
plants become sickly and die. Every time a green 
healthy frond is cut from a plant a direct injury is done 
to it, and although the effect may for a time be unnotice- 
able, yet if the practice be persisted in, the evil results 
become very conspicuous. This will suggest to the minds 
of Fern lovers that they must be judicious in the use of 
