258 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



" Synopsis Filicum," that while in Scotland P. aquilina ascends to 2000ft., 

 it reaches 7000ft. in the Cameroon Mountains, about 8000ft. in the Himalayas, 

 and 9000ft. in Abyssinia. In Great Britain and Ireland it is found growing 

 from the level of the sea to an altitude of 2000ft., and is thoroughly distinct 

 by its habit as well as through its peculiar mode of growth, which is not 

 shared by any other native Fern. 



The common "Brake Fern," or "Bracken," has from time immemorial 

 been known as a British plant. Turner, in the second part of his " Herbal," 

 published in 1562, gives a lengthy description of the various supposed healing 

 virtues attributed by the superstitious people of his time to the influence of 

 Bracken seed when gathered on Midsummer Eve — statements which are all 

 more or less ludicrous, and have long been completely refuted. It is so 

 generally distributed all over the United Kingdom, being met with on exposed 

 barren heaths and under the shelter of woods, that it is unnecessary to 

 particularise the localities in which it is found. Though not nearly so 

 particular as to the place in which it grows as are most of our other native 

 Ferns, and thriving in any soil, except a chalky one, the Bracken does 

 best when the latter is of a sandy nature, and, despite its somewhat common 

 appellation, it is, when growing luxuriantly, one of the handsomest of British 

 Ferns. In sheltered spots, the pale colour of its light, feathery fronds, which, 

 under the influence of shade and moisture, attain their maximum of p'rowth, 

 renders them particularly effective ; whereas the growth of the plants exposed 

 to the effects of full light makes up for its deficiency in size, its beautiful 

 foliage then assuming a glowing yellowish-red tint, which it retains for 

 a very long time. 



Of all our numerous native Ferns the Bracken is undoubtedly the one 

 which is put to most profitable uses, for it possesses a few undeniably good 

 qualities. As a vegetable manure it has few, if any, equals, for when burnt 

 its ashes will yield double the quantity of salts produced by the burning of 

 most other vegetables. Dr. Sprengel, who recommends this Fern as 

 a specially good manure, says that it is most valuable through its richness 

 in nitrogen, he having found that 1001b. of its dry foliage contains no less 

 than xVblb. of nitrogen. On account of its particularly strong, astringent 

 nature, the Bracken is used in many places abroad in preparing and dressing 

 kid and chamois leather. As a good litter in the stable and the fold, it is 



