172 Nature protected 
months, or both/' The words regard- 
ing the destruction of any creeping 
fern'' were intended to protect the 
Hartford fern, the walking fern, and 
maiden hair. 
Another paragraph reads thus : 
Every person who shall wilfully pull 
up, tear up, dig up, or destroy any 
trailing Arbutus from the land of 
another, or who shall sell, expose for 
sale, purchase, or have in his posses- 
sion, any Arbutus with the roots or 
underground stems attached, shall be 
fined not more than twenty dollars ; 
provided, however, that any person 
may take such Arbutus on land owned 
or leased by him, or with the per- 
mission of the owner or lessee." 
Massachusetts 
In Massachusetts, by a law of 1891, 
Trustees of Public Reservations were 
