BRITISH PERNS. 
a* 
the situation by bearing ripe spores, and thus, though left 
practically intact, eventually decked our fernery with true progeny. 
It may a so be pointed out in connection with Fern hunting, 
that even i something specially good fails to reward the hunter 
or huntress, the favourite habitats of Ferns are invariably in 
pictuiesque localities, and hence a day’s outing means not merely 
a day’s search, but also a ramble among the greenest of lanes or 
over and through the fairest of hills and glens, where Nature is 
at her loveliest. Hence, in any case, there is the enjoyment of 
fresh air and exercise amid charming surroundings, and in addition, 
if success crowns the day’s quest with anything distinct enough to 
form a souvenir, to say nothing of something entirely new, it is 
in our opinion d fficu't to indicate a more satisfactory way of 
spending a holiday. We must, however, point out that there is 
a vast difference between the variety hunting we advocate and 
that adopted by too many tourists and holidaymakers, who simply 
hunt the species, and by rooting it ruthlessly up wherever 
discovered have entirely depleted many Ferny spots of their 
erewhile feathery denizens. In the autumn it is painful to see the 
baskets and hampers of wayside Ferns which the visitors to these 
habitats are bringing away, not one in a thousand of which in all 
probability will ever be properly cared for. The variety hunter, 
on the other hand, finds a solitary plant of singular beauty, and 
by removing, cultivating, and propagating it, eventually multiplies 
it so that every collector may boast a specimen. In this way he 
enriches the world, instead of, as Shirley Hibberd puts it in this 
connection, “ skmning the planet.” 
However, we have now said enough, we think, to show 
that Fern hunting is not without its adventures as well as 
its rewards, and with the final i t mark that the occurrence of 
varieties is too wayward and capricious to peimit as yet any 
definite information to be given as regards the likeliest places, 
we will simply conclude by recommending our readers to try 
their hand the first opportunity, and expressing the hope that 
success may inoculate them with that lasting and incurable 
disease known as the “ Fern fever.” 
