








4 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
peculiarities of the species of Ferns, should certainly, if possible, adopt 
the method of studying from the living plant, for it reveals many 
curious and interesting features which are not to be learned from the 
most patient and assiduous investigations, carried on by means of 
such dried portions as are preserved in the herbarium. It is not 
the less true, however, that all the essential features necessary for 
the recognition of the species, may be preserved in well-selected 
herbarium specimens, so that those who have nof convenience for 
cultivating the living plants, may yet store up in their cabinets, 
for the amusement of their leisure hours, ample materials for 
acquiring an accurate knowledge of the subject. 
When the Hortus Siccus, or collection of dried specimens, is 
depended on for the purpose of study, some judgment should be 
exercised in the choice of the plants. They should be as nearly 
perfect as circumstances permit; root, stem, and frond, with their 
scales or hairs, and their sori should be secured, and none of these 
should be damaged by careless handling. The fructification, which 
is most important, should be nearly or quite full-grown, so as to 
show its mature form and character, but it should be rather under 
than over ripe, so that, if an indusiate species, the indusium may 
not have been cast off and lost. In very old fertile fronds the 
appearance of the fructification often becomes completely changed, 
and with such materials alone, serious errors of judgment may be 
committed by those who are not well-grounded in the study. 

