FERN COLLECTING 
99 
implements — such as a trowel, chisel, and hammer, &c. — 
needed for removing from their habitats the smaller and rarer 
of, for instance, our native Ferns, could be conveniently 
carried in a small tourist’s bag, slung on the back of the 
pedestrian collector, and in the same convenient way it would 
be found possible by careful packing to carry a good number 
of plants. Whenever possible it is desirable to take up the 
specimens with sufficient earth to prevent a disturbance of 
the roots. But in any case it is necessary that every possible 
portion of root should be taken up even to the ultimate fibrous 
rootlets ; and this object can be secured by carefully digging 
at a safe distance round and underneath the rootstock of the 
plant. Nothing so much promotes the rapid recovery of a 
plant after removal as the exercise of great care in getting up 
the entire mass of roots and rootlets. It must be remembered 
that it has often taken the rootstock a long time to develop 
its network of rootlets, which as they grew have penetrated 
into all the surrounding interstices of the soil or rock from 
which the plant derives its sustenance. If, therefore, the 
work of months is ruthlessly undone in a moment by the 
thoughtless tearing up of the plant without its mass of root- 
feeders, it cannot be expected that the same vigour will be 
immediately shown under cultivation as was before exhibited. 
Yet many Fern collectors on getting out of the earth or rock 
by a sharp pull of the hand what looks to them like an entire 
root, are surprised and disappointed on finding that the earliest 
fronds thrown up under cultivation have sadly dwindled 
from their natural size. Even when, to all appearance, there 
is a sufficient mass of rootlets secured, it often happens that 
a considerable number are left unperceived in the earth. 
Here in fact, as in everything else connected with the 
study of Ferns, it is Nature which should be closely copied, 
and if violence be done to Nature success in cultivation 
cannot be expected. 
H 
