THE BRACKEN. 73 
of umbrella fern refers to the spreading character of the 
fronds, and oak fern is another allusion to the appearance 
of a cross section of the stem. In Arkansas it is reported 
to be called upland fern. The word bracken forms part 
of many English surnames, and fern, farn and fearn, 
probably referring to the same species form part of as 
many more. 
The superstitions that cluster about the bracken are 
very numerous. A cross section of the stem presents a 
curious arrangement of the vascular tissues which some 
have likened to the letter C. Accordingly the plant was 
supposed to be good to protect one from goblins and 
witches “because it bears the initial of 
Christ upon its root.” The ‘canny 
Scot,” on the other hand, sees in this sec- 
tion the mark of the devil’s hoof. The 
appearance may also be fancied to resem- 
ble an oak tree and is frequently called 
“King Charles in the Oak.’ One an- 
cient writer says, “If you cut the root of 
the bracken slantwise you will see the 
picture of an oak tree. The more per- «kKInG CHARLES 
fect the representation, the more lucky IN THE OAK.” 
youwill be.”” By others the arrangement was held to 
form the initial of one’s sweetheart. 
The smoke from burning ferns also had its virtues. 
Parkinson says, ‘“ The fume of ferne being burned, driv- 
eth away serpents, gnats and other noisome creatures ” 
and that ‘the sent of. it is very gratefull to the braine.”’ 
In the seventeenth century it was customary to burn 
the bracken when rain was needed. It is said there is 
still in existence aletter from an early English king, who, 
desirous of having fine weather during his visit to Staf- 
