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esculenta, Forst.; ult. divisions narrower and not contiguous, suddenly decurrent 
at the base, so that the bases are connected by a narrow lobe. — J±k Sp. 2. p 19d. 
P. arachnoidea, Kaulf. 
Hab. All round the world both within the Tropics and in the North and 
South Temperate Zones, unless it be absent from South Temperate America from 
which there are no specimens in the Herbarium. In Lapland it just passes within 
the Arctic circle, ascending in Scotland to 2, COO ft., in the Cameroon Mountains 
to 7,000 ft,, in Abyssinia to 8,000 or 9,000 ft., in the Himalayas to about 8000 ft. 
c inhabits principally New Zealand, Australia, the Polynesian Islands, and Tropical 
South America.— Dr. Spruce has seen it in the Andes 14 ft. in height. 
I may extract what I have said about this Fern in a para- 
graph contributed to the “ Ceylon Observer” with reference to its use as 
an article of Manure for Coffee : — 
“ The following extract from Mr. Donaldon’s “ British Agriculture” refers to 
one of our most abundant ferns of the interior, which scarcely differs as a variety 
from the common bracken of Scotland, several times alluded to in the “ Lady 
of the Lake.” It is so abundant on some of the patnas and other open ground 
near some of the Coffee Estates in the interior, and indeed in other places as a 
weed in the Coffee, that the hints here given for killing it, and converting it 
into a good manure may prove of use to several of our readers. When speaking 
to a gentleman in Dolosbagie about the means of killing this Fern he informed 
ms that the villagers gravely told him the best way to do so was by thrashing it 
with switches — just as good a way as any other, because the plant ultimately 
dies like any other, if its fronds are thrashed to death, or cut off. The creep- 
ing roots die in this case for want of their lungs : but we believe the best way 
after all to get rid of it, if once it gets into a Coffee Estate, is to dig up the 
creeping roots (rhizomes) and expose them on the surface or have them removed. 
A few cuttings of the young fronds close to the ground would no doubt also soon 
kill this Fern. 
“ Fern,” — Farn-Jcraiot, German fearn , Saxon ;—filices, Latin ; — is a plant of 
the cryptogamous class, and though the kind is numerous, only one vegetable 
comes under the notice of agriculture, the “ pteris aquilina ” of botany, or the 
common brake. It grows on soils of good quality, and is very generally diffused 
over heaths and uncultivated grounds. The roots spread horizontally and go 
deeply into the ground, and are often difficult of extirpation — frequent mowing of 
tjie young plants, and ploughing and dunging have been recommended, and above 
all ,the pouring of urine upon them— sheep folded on fern ground will banish 
them by means of the dung and urine, Fern has a salt, mucilaginous taste, and 
is used for thatch, for heating ovens, and mixing with bread, and for being 
brewed into ale. It is very astringent, and used in preparing kid and chamois 
leather. The ashes of ferns afford a large quantity of salt, about one-ninth of 
their weight, chiefly the sulphate and sub-carbonate of potash. One thousand 
parts of the plant cut in August, and thoroughly dried, afforded 36 ‘46 of ashes, 
which yielded by lixiviation 4 - 5 of salt. 1000 parts of fern gave 116 lbs. of saline 
matter, and 100 parts gave 3‘224 of earths, 4-00781 of ashes, and 0‘6259 of potash : 
10000 parts contain 62 of potash. Ferns are dried for being used as litter for 
cattle, and must be laid in the bottoms of the yards, and in very moist places, 
as they remain long unchanged. The organization must be completely saturated. 
The ashes are a good top dressing. The plants must be cut while green, as the 
alkali escapes from the withered plant by every shower that falls. Where ferns 
abound, a good litter may be got from them, and the dried plants may be cut into 
lengths by the straw-cutting machines, which will much facilitate the reduction of 
the tough fibrous texture.” 
