34 HANDY BOOK OF 
were, however, imperfectly developed, and had suffered 
from the depredation of insects. 
The absence of the Common Brake throughout such an 
extended space is the more extraordinary, because there is 
scarcely a heath or common a wood or forest, in any part 
of the United Kingdom, where it does not hold a prominent 
station. Its presence is said to indicate a poor soil ; hut 
Newman is inclined to think that its absence from rich and 
highly- cultivated ground is rather attributable to the effects 
of the plough and hoe. Varying in height from ten or 
twelve inches to as many feet, it attains an enormous size in 
shady woods where the soil is moist, and sunbeams rarely 
enter. Kent is one of its favourite localities ; and we re- 
member gathering some fine specimens in a beech wood near 
Ebworth Park, in Gloucestershire. The trees were large 
and beautiful ; but, with the exception of the Brakes and 
common Solomon's Seal, nothing could nourish beneath their 
shade : these plants, however, grew profusely ; and it was 
cheering to welcome them in a spot where even the common 
green moss seemed disinclined to vegetate. 
Young fronds of the Brake-fern appear in May ; they are 
very susceptible of cold, and the first shoots are almost in- 
variably destroyed by the late frosts of spring, even when 
the month is considerably advanced. They emerge from 
out the earth either bent or doubled, the leafy portion being 
pressed against the rachis ; yet not curled, according to the 
wont of other species. And as in spring this welcome fern 
shrinks from such lingering frosts as seem unwilling to for- 
sake the fields, so in autumn their visitations, however 
transient, cause the leaves to become of a deep-brown colour, 
and thus they continue during the whole winter, frequently 
in an erect position, and affording shelter to small animals, 
and birds when seeking for insect food. 
The roots are brown, fibrous, and penetrating; the rhizoma 
is also brown, velvety, of extensive and rapid growth, run- 
