CHAPTER III. 
FROND GATHERING. 
In the compass of a small folio may be contained the 
delightful reminiscences of many a country ramble ; the history, 
in short, written in colours from Nature’s own pallet, of a 
holiday lifetime. Who would not hold such a record in his 
possession if he might? And all may do so. The means are 
at hand, and the way is plain and easily to be followed. 
Frond gathering is essentially a summer pursuit. The 
proper season for it is, indeed, when Ferns are in the height 
of their glory, when they have reached to the perfection of 
their graceful form, are clothed with their richest of 
beautiful tints, and are mellow with a wealth of fruit. But 
we must describe in detail the process of gathering and pre- 
serving the feathery trophies of the stream-bank and ferny 
lane. Search should be made for the most perfect specimens 
of the fronds it is intended to preserve, and such a search will 
require great care and attention. If there be a broken stipes, 
rachis, or pinnule ; if there be any unnatural discoloration 
of the frond or injury by insects, such a specimen must be 
rejected. It is essential, too, that a frond to be gathered 
for preservation should be completely unrolled, so that every 
pinna, pinnule, and lobe should be unfolded into its most 
perfect state of growth. When possible, the time for taking 
the frond should be just before the final ripening of the 
fructification. If the latter be fully ripe the spore cases will 
burst in the process of drying, and will not be so interesting 
