In TROD UCTI01V. 
XXIX 
usually brought to Europe as a styptic. The Pulu of the Sandwich Islands consists of similar 
hairs of Cibotium ghmcitm, and allied species. 
The bruised fronds of Angiopteris evecta are used in the Pacific Islands, with those of 
Polypodium phymatodes, for imparting an agreeable odour to cocoa-nut oil ; and the oil thus 
prepared forms the basis of a liniment which is largely employed by the natives against 
rheumatic pains. An elegant and fragrant South African fern, Mohria thurifraga , is somewhat 
similarly employed, being used in the manufacture of an ointment which is found useful in 
burns and similar cases. The densely clothed rhizomes of a species of Davallia are used in 
China in medical practice ; there are specimens in the herbarium of the British Museum from 
an apothecary’s stall at Ningpo. Nothochlcena piloselloides has been used in India to subdue 
sponginess in the gums. 
The trunks of some of the tree-ferns, such as the New Zealand Cyathea medullar is, and 
Alsophila excelsa, in Norfolk Island, are used in building; while the fronds of Acroslichum 
aureum are commonly employed for thatching in the coast districts of the Isthmus of 
Panama. In the Fiji Islands another Alsophila, A. lunulata, the “Balabala” of the natives, 
which attains the height of twenty-five feet, and forms an imposing feature in the landscape, 
is much used in building, the trunks being not only extremely durable, but also to a great 
extent fire-proof. Dr. Seemann states that the little sticks which the chiefs carry stuck under 
their turban, and with which they scratch their heads, are also made ot Balabala. He says : 
“ The trunks make excellent posts, lasting an incredibly long time, and possessing moreover the 
advantage of being almost fire-proof. After a house has been burnt down, they are almost the 
only trace that remains. It is also customary to make the ridge-pole of houses and temples of 
this tree-fern, and to surround it with the Wa-Kalou (holy creeper), a species of that curious genus 
of climbing ferns, Lygodictyon — partially, no doubt, from some superstitious notions, but partially 
also to keep out the wet. The trunk of the Balabala, cut into ornamental forms, is frequently 
observed around tombs, temples, bures, and churches, presenting a pretty effect.” The tubes of 
the pipes of the Brazilian negroes are made from the stipes of Mertensia dichotoma, which they 
call “ Samanbaya.” 
THE FERN HERBARIUM. 
A Fern herbarium is, perhaps, more easy to make, and more satisfactory when made, than 
that of any other class of plants, except possibly Mosses. Some groups, indeed, such as the 
Fungi, it is almost impossible to preserve in any even approximately satisfactory manner; others, 
such as the Lichens, are readily preserved — indeed, they may be said to preserve themselves — 
but it can hardly be said that they form an attractive-looking collection, and moreover they 
are somewhat cumbrous, as they are not always readily to be removed from the rocks or 
stones upon which they grow. Then as to flowering plants : it is true that the professed 
botanist troubles hinself very little about such trifles as colour, and even form is not greatly 
attended to by him, but the amateur may be pardoned if he regards a herbarium as partaking 
a little of the nature of a hay-stack, while the “ things of beauty ” of which it is composed 
can assuredly in no sense be regarded as “joys for ever.” In spite of all efforts to the 
contrary, and of all the means proposed to avert the evil, the colour will fly from blue 
flowers; yellow ones — such as Primroses, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, and the like — sooner or later 
assume a bright green hue, and such delicate pieces of colouring as the Spotted Orchis 
become of a uniform brown tint. Other objectionable peculiarities might be mentioned — 
h n 
