PTERIS. 
177 
opinion considers its presence an indication of poor land, 
but this is a fact certainly not proven. It is easily era- 
dicated by the plough or hoe. 
Many are the uses to which this fern may be applied. 
When cut green, and left to rot, it forms excellent ma- 
nure for potatoes ; and, used as fuel, it makes a capital 
fire for brewing or baking. In the Western Isles of 
Scotland, and also in England, the people sell its ashes 
to glass and soap makers; and in Wales it is burned for 
its alkali, which is made into balls and sold to house- 
wives, being applied by them for washing purposes to 
save soap. In Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, it is used 
for thatching and for litter for horses. Lightfoot has 
recorded most of these uses to which to apply the Brake,, 
and he adds that in many places on the Continent it is 
used in preparing kid and chamois leather, because of 
its astringency. The young shoots, when boiled, form 
good food for pigs ; and the poor in Normandy have 
been reduced to mixing them with their flour. It is 
called aquilina because a section of the base of the stem 
is thought to present a likeness of the imperial eagle ; 
while in England it is considered to represent King 
Charles in the oak. 
Dr. Johnston stated that the mark in the section of 
the stem was compared to “ the impression of the deviks 
foot;” and Mr. Newman, in repeating his statement, 
adds humorously, “ an impression, by the way, with 
which I am not so familiar as to be able to decide on 
the aptness of the comparison / 5 
This fern grows in all parts of the world, from Lap- 
land to New Zealand; it is found in dense forests, by 
the seashore, luxuriating in the marsh and crowning 
mountain ranges. 
N 
