Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-14

Several species of ferns, more commonly
called brakes in some localities, are becom-
lug very fashionable ornamental plants
among cultured florists. The farmers in
some of our towns, where these plants are
over-running the pastures. may not be able
to appreciate their beauty as fully as the
correspondent of the Manchester Mirror and
Farmer whom we quote below
The family of ferns occupies a low place
in the vegetable kingdom in respect to per-
fectness of organization. But in regard to
beauty of form, and as subjects for interest
ing study, the ferns are hardly surpassed by
any group of plants. They have an infinite
variety of forms, beautiful and delicate, and
although they produce no flowers to attract
attention by rich colors and fragrant odors
yet there is more diversity in their color than
one might suppose. Various shades of
green are to be seen in different kinds; from
the dark rich green of the evergreen ferns
which, if we dig them out from under the
snow in mid-winter are still as fresh as
ever-to the delicate yellowish- green of the
most tender species, which curl and bleach
and brown with the earliest frosts or the APP
proach of cold weather.
Ferns are very interesting subjects for
botanical study. Their fronds, as the flat
expanded part is called, answer to the leaves,
and stems also, Of other plants They bear
on their back or edges the fruit dots or clus-
tiers of spores, which are imperfect seeds.
For ferns, as they have no flowers, produce
no true seeds but spores instead, which an
swer the same purpose. These fruit-dots or
clusters are arranged in variety of ways in
different species, and it is a pleasant study
to trace out and classify the different arrange
ments
In the southeastern part of New Hamp-
shire there are about thirty varieties of ferns,
and over twenty grow in one town. First
there is the coarse umbrella shaped brake,
two or three feet high, which abounds in dry
thickets and pastures. Then the polypody or
rock fern, with fronds six inches long, is
common on shaded messy rocks. There are
two kinds of Asplenium one has long narrow
fronds, sometimes a foot high and only an
inch and half wide, standing up in little
clusters stiff and straight. Sometimes, when
growing from crevices in the face of cliff,
they look as if pressed up against the rock to
keep from being blown away. They are
very different in this respect from the poly
pody, whose graceful curved fronds stand
out from the rock in a loose, airy manner.
The other kind Of ASpLenium referred to is
the lady-fern with finely divided fronds.
Much like this last, but more delicate and
fine, is the Dicksonia, one the most beauti-
lul VI All our hBcCloh, cbpoblhAy hntn BEOHu
| in moist shaded spots. We have six species
of the shield fern in this region; these are
large, and have a rich plume-like or feathery
| appearance, and most of them are evergreen.
| The Towering ferns, as they are called, of
three kinds, are the most tropical in appear
anee. Two of these are almost palm like
| with their great plumy fronds four or five
feet long standing up in large clumps. They
are found in wet places. The sensitiye-fern
also grows in low grounds. Its fronds are
triangular in shape and are very sensitive in
regard to frost. The maiden-hair, the most
delicate and graceful of all our species, e1-
cepting perhaps the rare climbing fern, de-
| lights in shade and rich, moist soil but it
| is not always to be found where one would
think it might grow. This elegant fern is
more often cultivated than any other of our
wild ones. One or two species of WOOdsid,
small ferns, grow in dry, rocky situations.
| The mOOnworts also must be mentioned;
there are three or four kinds, all possessing
considerable beauty.
| Among the rarest ferns of this State are
the walking.leaf, and the beautiful climbing
fern, both peculiarly interesting for their Gu
rious habits of growth The family of ferns
will be found by all lovers of plants TO be a
| very interesting portion of the vegetable
world, aud it is not hard to learn to distin-
gush the different species bOtanically.
Our enjoyment Of their beauty need not be
confined to the summer, for many of them
will live aud flourish through the winter in
fernerY in the house; they can also be press
ed, and with oolored leaves. made into va
riety of decorations for walls and windows.
collection of the different kinds, too ar
ranged systematically, the specimens fasten-
ed to the leaves of serap-book or similar
volume, makes a very pretty ornament for
| the pArlor table, and from it, also, much may
! be learned. W. H.