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THE FERN BULLETIN 



original description. Two detached fronds received 

 later were, however, of very different form, not at all 

 characteristic of A. alternans, and the question of the 

 distinctness of the American form was left in abey- 

 ance. The case has certainly been presented with suf- 

 ficient completeness recently, leaving little doubt as to 

 the proper reference of the Arizona plant. 



THE HARTS-TONGUE IN TENNESSEE. 



By E. YY. Graves. 



Having made two trips to the South Pittsburg sta- 

 tion of the hart's-tongue, I thought perhaps you 

 might be interested in hearing how the fern was hold- 

 ing its own in that locality. The first trip I made on 

 the sixth of May. At that time the fern had not made 

 sufficient growth for me to tell just how many there 

 were, so- I made a second trip September 28. This 

 was before any frost had touched the plants and they 

 were at their best. They were not large plants — only 

 five or six had fronds a foot long. The remainder 

 were small. Some were just emerging from the game- 

 tophyte stage. 



The numbers have greatly decreased since Mr. and 

 Mrs. Joseph H. Lodge visited the sink in 1808, as they 

 reported about two hundred at that time. By actual 

 count I found there was only fifty-eight plants. I do 

 not know what has been the cause of the decrease ; it 

 may be that the sides caving in has destroyed a good 

 many. 



There is another danger that now threatens the fern 

 at this place and may ultimately cause its total extinc- 

 tion. About three years ago a million dollar cement 

 plant was located at the foot of the mountain on which 

 the fern grows, a young town has sprung up and the 



