New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-15
THE FERN FAMILY AT HOME.
HERE'S LETTER OF INTRODUCTION TO
THESE SWAMP ARIsTOCRATs.
THEY REALLY WELCOME PEOPLE OF GOOD MAN
NERs. WHO HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR
TIE FAMILY MYSTERIES


TIE FAMILY MYSTERIES.
Woods are full Of piny smells
And the faint fragrance Of The fern.
elizabeth Akers Allen.
Thoreau says I'VE all feel the ferns to be further
from Us. essentially and sympathetcally, than the
heterogeneous plants, the roses and weeds for in
stance" This seems 20 be true In = measure, even
the present day. for in the multiplicity OF excel
lent books about birds butterflies plants and trees
so helpful 20 the non-scentiAc nature lover there
Is a notable lack Of fern literature The idea pre-
1als that the cryptogamous. or howeress phase OF
plant life is exceedingly difficult % comprehension
10 the amateur ho:arst. While this Is doubtless
true OF the MOSES. lchens and fungi ferns, on the
CONTRARY present few obstacles TO the student.
With a good lens and Knobels booklet. enthusi-
asst has determined twenty-eght species IN a single
locality. Notwithstanding the mystery which en-
veops the ferns. especially in their reproduction
by means Of the wonderful spore dust-a subject
invested by the ancients with all sorts Of queer
s1perstitions and not yet fully understood-their
grace and decacy give them a peculiar charm.
and they must always remain favOrite form OF
plant lifs.
Many native varieties may be easily cutivat ted
by Initiating closely as possible their natural
surroundings Should your specimens come from
the deep woods. where many beautiful kinds are
found place them in a well shaded spot, preferably
with a northern exposure, and see that they have
plenty Of water Don't forget 10 bring with them
a good supply o. native soil when transplanting.
A certain city yard has IFS shady side bordered
with beautiful ferns brought from the country,
sprinEing each season from underground stems ana
continuing until the frosts turn their lovely green
70 the yelows browns and russets Of their waning
life
Unlike flowers. ferns retain their beauty Of form
and coloring when pressed and mounted. A quick
and satisfactory method Of pressing is simply
ironing" Place the ferns between layers OF news
ransr usfug q moderately fatrOn.
To make a beautiful and interesting "fernbook
use an ordinary scrapbook OF rather heavy paper.
Arrange the pressed specimens as artisticaIy as
may be upon the leaves: by means OF strips or
paper. pasted across the stem and tips OF the
fronds, TX them in place When the fertile and
sterile fronds are unlike both should be shown
Write the name, date and where found ,-. k.-r
With the exception perhaps, o. cIg os'f ~ i are
r1e Osmundas There only three species. all
eiock One ands unroiing early in May the young
f-onds, well wrapped IN wool 49,, $780, oa.s,a
heads" from their shape. The spores mature IN
June. In swampy places the royal Iern lOsnluriq@
DIX f-uit clusters TO a height Of FIVE feet or six
R,lisr5ev lake region lis dropping branches
Ranging gracefully over the water form dense
-r5e iDterrupted fern (Osmunda Caytoniana) bears
81 sDcre clusters in the middle or some or NE ledy
1ronts whence as Il a s 5ecsTly graceful fern
~ outer circle Of the cump being composed OF the
ra-~e ~ which arise the tall fruit bearing fronds
c,Irying gracefully outward. The third member or
.-.s Family il the cinnamon fern (Osmunda CHINA
rroueaI closely resembling the above but growing
ro-a vertically Some OF the central Ironds OF edcn
ci1-nr are wholly fertile. their bright cinnamon
cor making them conspicuous. a., ,.,.....a
our wet meadows are often tinged deHeeate
yeIIou.-green by great masses or sensitive fern
fC-cas sensibiiis most inappropria tely named as
= Is nor az an fragile In appearance. W me- tnIs
often grows 10 a height OF two feet us tines
frvds are perfect in shape Like me cinn4lltI}i.
49, ,rognd This Is green when immature turn
!r- darker as n rpens late IN August , .r
Aro+ner abundant species growing alohs nv Nv.
roadside In wild luXuriant tangles from on
three feet high is the lady fern 'Aspiellun ~
f-.rinsD l. IL nor the graceful and deIcaie pan
rs ZANE would imply. and though STRIKING an!
eTfac-Ive IL becomes somewhat coarse ana nee nc
f. Iafe summer The undersdes OF al us Itoi ny.
a. black with abundant spore cIusIeIIS 49,, j,e
l7-v tenn seems 70 have been honored above IL
s.g-ers In poetry several writer's mentioning il ny
name ScOtt says, $1,000.
Where the copse wood is the greenest'
Where the fountain glistens sheehesI
Where the morning dew lies IongesL..
There the lady fern grows strongest