—2 6— 



produce the plant as those broken from the fronds in the 

 greenhouse do, is not yet known. Readers in the region 

 where this plant grows would do a service to science by 

 investigating. 



Bracken Protected by Law. — In America the 

 bracken (Pteris aquilina) receives scant attention from 

 the land-owner, who probably never thinks of it unless 

 he is devising a way of eradicating it from his fields. In 

 England, however, the case is different, as indicated by 

 the following communication recently published in Gar- 

 dening World: " I have read with considerable surprise 

 a letter in your issue to-day on the subject of utilizing 

 the young shoots of bracken as food. Your correspondent 

 does not mention the locality in which she resides, which 

 may differ materially from others, but here in Banstead, 

 and for many miles around, the young bracken shoots are 

 protected by very stringent laws, inflicting a heavy fine 

 on any person cutting or mutilating the bracken before 

 notice allowing them to do so is issued. This generally 

 appears about the middle of September. The bracken is 

 then dry and of a beautiful golden brown and then any 

 person can cut any quantity he pleases." The usual fine 

 is $25.00 and costs. The correspondent does not indicate 

 the uses to which the bracken is put, but it is probably 

 used in packing vegetables and protecting tender plants 

 outdoors, much as straw is used in America. 



INDEX TO RECENT LITERATURE. 



Readers are requested to call our attention to any omis- 

 sions from this list. 



Bissell, C. H. A New Station for Asplenium pinna- 

 tffidum. Rhodora. D. 1906. — Second finding of this 

 species in New England. 



Clute, W. N. A Check-list of the North American 

 Femworts. Fern Bulletin. O. 1906. — A continuation, 

 tion. 



