THE FERN FLORA OF MICHIGAN 



BY C. K. DODGE. 



As one will see by referring to the map, Michigan in 

 so many respects, is naturally one of the most favored 

 spots known in the world. It is bordered and almost 

 surrounded by four out of the five Great Lakes and 

 their connecting streams, has over 1600 miles of coast 

 line, perhaps over 5,000 small lakes, numerous small 

 rivers, and consists of two main parts usually referred 

 to as the Upper Peninsula and the Lower Peninsula. 

 The State, large in area but very irregular in outline, 

 lies between latitude 41°-45' and 48°-20', and longi- 

 tude 82°-25' and 90°-34' and between these northern 

 and southern parts, the temperature varies more than 

 7 degrees. The area approximates 58,900 square miles 

 or 37,705,000 acres. It will be seen at once that a care- 

 ful examination and study of the distribution of species 

 from north to south will be very interesting and profit- 

 able. 



To those not familiar with the whole history of the 

 State, it appears very strange how two such large 

 bodies of country, but so different in every respect and 

 divided into two irregular parts by large lakes and 

 straits, came to be joined together politically as one 

 State. The circumstances and incidents bringing it 

 about have passed into legend and history. It is sel- 

 dom a Michigan historian treats the matter with 

 seriousness, but rather makes light of the whole affair. 

 It seems that Michigan was about to be admitted into 

 the Union with a territory covering only the Lower 

 Peninsula, when a lively dispute arose between Ohio 

 and Michigan as to the boundary, which involved the 

 possession of an east and west narrow strip of land 

 covering in part the place where Toledo is situated. 

 The kindly counsel of Uncle Sam was offered and fin- 



6 



