BRAKES OR BRACKEN. 
95 
feathery fronds and rich green appearance, adds 
greatly to the scenic effect of many a rural district. 
It forms a hiding-place for game ; and the fern-coverts 
are well known to sportsmen, and are celebrated in 
song: 
4 4 The wild buck bells from ferny brake/ 5 
The economical uses of this fern are many. As a 
manure it is largely consumed in some places ; and in 
the western parts of Scotland is a profitable source of 
alkaline ashes for the glass and soap-maker. As a 
litter for horses, it is in great request in some parts of 
Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. The stalks are used 
as materials for thatching, and this seems to be a 
very ancient practice,—as early as the year 1349. In 
the Forest of Dean, pigs are fed on the fronds. A 
botanical friend of our own, rather given to specula¬ 
tive devices, sent us one day a dish, consisting of the 
lower parts of the stem of this fern, cut off just below 
the ground, so as to retain the white delicate appear¬ 
ance of underground growth, assuring us it was quite 
equal to asparagus. It was accordingly cooked, and 
served as seakale or asparagus, and pronounced to be 
quite palatable, though not equal to either of the 
other named vegetables. It might, however, well 
form a substitute for them, and, being so easily and 
inexpensively obtained, it is surprising that it does 
not oftener find its way to the poor man s table. The 
astringency of this fern is great, so much so that it 
