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of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which was more in 

 the nature of a check-list, and in the same year began my series 

 of "Fern Notes" in the Torrey Bulletin. During this period also 

 some useful check-lists were published by John Robinson and 

 VVm. Edwards, and in 1875 John H. Redfield published in Torrey 

 Bulletin his valuable paper on the "Geographical Distribution of 

 the Ferns of North America." 



In the latter part of the seventies the matter for "Our Native 

 Ferns and Their Allies," by Dr. Underwood must have been well 

 in hand although it was not published until 1881. Nevertheless 

 its conception and preparation must belong to the seventies and 

 the fact of its having reached a sixth edition is evidence of its 

 having proved to be a useful and valuable work. 



During the seventies and eighties I had many interesting and 

 varied experiences which I love to recall, especially the ex- 

 cursions through Essex County with John Robinson, the Chest- 

 nut Hill district and Purgatory Swamp with Mr. Hitchings, and 

 the Faxon's, Edwin and Charles, and the trip to Smugglers' 

 Notch with dear Mr. Pringle. 



During the twenty-nine years of my fern work I have had 

 the pleasure of witnessing the gradually increasing fern-love 

 crystallize into the formation of the Linnaean Fern Chapter, 

 and the Fern Bulletin, and the satisfaction of having some who 

 at first would want to know "what good those weeds were any- 

 way" come to be enthusiastic lovers of them. For such is often 

 the case. As one comes under the influence of the nature-love 

 he begins to realize that there is more in these "weeds" than lie 

 ever dreamed of before, and finds that the ferns, with their de- 

 lightful exhalations from the very sanctuary of Nature are often- 

 times "ministering angels," indeed. 



One of my early correspondents, whose life was shadowed by 

 a great sorrow, once wrote to me that he came to find great 

 consolation in his newly awakened love for the ferns. Ah, yes, 

 the fern love will indeed soothe the spirit, and enable one to bear 

 up under severe afflictions, and sweeten memories that become 

 more and more precious with the lapse of time. Can I ever forget 

 the dear sweet voice which is ever sounding in my ears, "here 

 is one fern, papa?" 



