688 Handbook of Nature-Study 



cases; the spores make up the fine dust which comes from the spore-cases. 

 It would be well to make a diagram on the blackboard of the fern with its 

 parts named, so that the pupils may consult it while studying ferns. 



Observations — i. Study a stump of the Christmas ferns. Are there any 

 withered fronds? Wheredo theyjointherootstock? Do the green fronds 

 come from the same place on the rootstock as the withered ones ? Do the 

 green ferns come from near the tip of the rootstock? Can you find the 

 growing tip of the rootstock? Can you trace back and find where the 

 fronds of last year and year before last grew? Does that part of the root- 

 stock seem alive now? Can .you find the true root of the fern? 



2. Take a frond of the Christmas fern. Is the stem, or stipe, and the 

 midrib, or rachis, smooth or rough? What color are the scales of the 

 stalk? Do you think that these scales once wrapped the fern bud? 



3. Does each frond of a clump have the same number of pinnse on 

 each side? Can you find fronds where the pinnae near the tip are nar- 

 rower than those below? Take a lower pinna and draw it carefully, 

 showing its shape, its edges and its veins. Is there a point, or ear, at 

 the base of every pinna? Is it a separate lobe or a mere point of the 

 pinna ? 



4. Take one of the narrow pinnae near the tip of the frond, and 

 examine it beneath. Can you see some circular, roundish blisterlike 

 dots? Are they dented at the center? How many of these dots on a 

 pinna? Make a little sketch showing how they are arranged on the 

 pinna and on the little earlike point. Look at the fruiting pinnag of 

 a fern during July, and describe how they look then. 



5. Do all the fronds of a fern clump have these narrowed spore- 

 bearing pinnae? Do you know what those fronds are called that bear 

 the fruit-dots? 



6. Where do you find the Christmas fern growing? Do you ever find 

 it in a s-unny place? Why is it called the Christmas fern? 



FERN SONG 



Dance to the beat of the rain, little Fern 



And spread out your palms again, 



And say, "Tho' the sun 



Hath my vesture spun, 



He had labored, alas, in vain, 



But for the shade 



That the Cloud hath made. 



And the gift of the Dew and the Rain." 



Then laugh and upturn 



All your fronds, little Fern, 



And rejoice in the beat of the rain! 



— John B. Tabb. 



