' bruises. The Maidenhair is t 
heir properties being bitter an i 
i Fern, the Royal Fern, is mucl 
nri oq .n application to sprains 
iployed in the form of 
the fronds, and flavouring the infusion with orange flowers. 
This preparation is considered pectoral, though, if too strong, 
** » s**d to be emetic. The common Adder’e-tongue is 
gathered by country-people for the preparation of adder’s- 
spear ointment, which is a popular remedy for recent 
s Male Fern abound ii 
_Both the common Bracken and t] 
| alkali, which is applied to variou __ 
5 manufacture of soap and glass. From their astringmcy they 
are employed sometimes in the dressing of leather, <fcc. 
. These species have also been used in the preparation of beer. 
. * amongst the best of all plants for preservation^ 
in the dried state, in the form of an herbarium; for, in add£ 
faon to their elegant appearance when nicely arranged on 
sheets of white paper, they are less liable than most plants 
to the attacks of the destructive pests in the shape of insects, 
wftuch commit great havoc among dried plants in general 
The plants should be dried quickly, under moderately 
heavy pressure, among sheets of absorbent paper, which 
must be replaced daily by dried sheets as long as the plants 
continue to rive out moisture. The thicker the bulk of 
paper placed between the specimens whilst under pressure, 
’ . Jitter. Two or three changes will generally be suffi¬ 
cient, if the substituted sheets be in each case perfectly dry. 
. sm ^ iler growing kinds should be gathered, if possible, 
in the tufts as they grow, preserving the whole mass nf 
fronds, with the stem mid roots, the fronds being spread o 
easy and gracefW^rm, 
is have to be substSutedfthey should be 
as far as possible kept 
be obtained, and single 
should be taken quite to 
removed from the stem with care, so 
that the scales, or hairs, or farinose powder, which may be 
f^dltself. tte StaUC * may ^ Preserved equally with the 
Of larger-growing species, single fronds only are manage- 
«*e>and these, when of larger size than the folios in which 
the specimens are to be kept, must be folded to somewhat 
Iras than the length of the papers, whilst yet fresh. Of the 
gigantic species, portions only of the fronds, corresponding 
is size with the paper to be used, can be preserved; but all 
