35 
waterman of Loch Tyne, who lived a thousand years 
ago. And in most of the works on Botany you will 
find that they tell a pretty tale, as how this Osmund 
hid his wife and daughter in a wilderness of this fern 
on an island in the lake to preserve them from the 
savage Danes, who were then over-running the land, 
and how the waterman’s name Osmund was after- 
wards given to the fern. I hope it is true, because 
it is a charming story, but the whole affair is far too 
romantic to be admitted into a dull matter-of-fact 
little book like this. 
Uses. — In some counties an application of this 
fern, bruised, and soaked in water, is used in cases 
of sprains and contusions. Those who have been 
beaten or wounded sometimes drink a decoction of 
it. Withering says the root boiled is very slimy, 
and that in the north of Europe it is employed to 
stiffen linen. 
W here found. — It grows in several places among 
the hills above Sidbury and Harcombe. These places 
are hard to describe and hard to get at. I will, how- 
ever, point out the easiest. Now attend. Go to 
Harcombe, two miles and a half off. When there, 
take the lane northward towards Sweetcombe, (pro- 
nounced Swetcum,') with Bucken Hill rising on your 
left. When at the distance of about half a mile from 
Harcombe, look out for an orchard on your left that 
comes right down to the lane. Then, at the top of 
the steep grass-field immediately beyond this orchard, 
you will find it growing in the wet ground close to 
the hedge. It also grows in the swamp out over the 
hedge. 
Culture. — The roots should be transplanted by 
removing them in a ball of earth if possible. The 
newly-established plant ought to be placed near a 
pond or spring, as otherwise it will scarcely survive 
the change. It affects damp situations. 
