13 
preservatives against witchcraft. The plant was 
recommended to he burnt when ’gnats and other 
disagreeable insects were troublesome* as the smoke 
drove them away* — as if no other smoke would do. 
I have* however* seen the settlers in North America 
light fires of any wood that came first* before the 
doors of their log huts or other houses in summer* 
so that the smoke* playing about the entrance* pre- 
vented the mosquitoes from getting in. The male 
fern has been used in making beer ; and as it con- 
tains both gallic acid and tannin* it would form a 
good substitute for hops. The inhabitants of Siberia 
sometimes boil it in their ale* in order to impart to 
it a certain flavour which they like. It is rich in 
alkali* and has been used in the manufacture of glass 
and soap* and in the tanning of leather. 
Vaejetv — Incisa * erosa * or affinis . This variety 
grow T s four or five feet high* and is large and hand- 
some in appearance. Its pinnules are elongated to a 
point* or tapering towards the apex* are more deeply 
serrated* and are studded with an abundance of seed- 
spots. Incisa means incised* or cut into* because the 
pinnules are serrated: erosa * eroded* corroded* or 
eaten into : affinis, akin to* resembling* allied to* 
that is* to the common sort. 
Wheee found. — It is sufficiently abundant in 
the neighbourhood* but is not confined to any par- 
ticular locality* or hill* or dale* or lane. It is thinly 
distributed here and there all over this wide valley. 
To mention a spot or two — it will be found at 150 
paces beyond Broadway towards Bulverton* in the 
left-hand hedge: about 200 paces beyond Stowford 
Gate* in the left-hand high bank. The variety 
occurs in Boomer Lane. It is not uncommon in the 
shady “goyles*” as the deep Devonshire ditches are 
called* on the east flank of Bulverton Hill. 
Culture. — Like a cosmopolite* it is at home any- 
where. Only give it shade and a moderately damp 
situation. It is almost always cut down by the 
winter frosts* unless it is in a very sheltered situ- 
ation. If it braves these* it will remain green till 
the young shoots appear in spring. The caudex or 
root endures to a great age. 
