Filmy Fern. _Trichomanes Boschianum_
Fruiting Pinnules of Filmy Fern
Crosiers
Noted Fern Authors
Spray of the Bulblet Bladder Fern




PREFACE


A lover of nature feels the fascination of the ferns though he may know
little of their names and habits. Beholding them in their native haunts,
adorning the rugged cliffs, gracefully fringing the water-courses, or
waving their stately fronds on the borders of woodlands, he feels their
call to a closer acquaintance. Happy would he be to receive instruction
from a living teacher: His next preference would be the companionship of a
good fern book. Such a help we aim to give him in this manual. If he will
con it diligently, consulting its glossary for the meaning of terms while
he quickens his powers of observation by studying real specimens, he may
hope to learn the names and chief qualities of our most common ferns in a
single season.

Our most productive period in fern literature was between 1878, when
Williamson published his "Ferns of Kentucky," and 1905, when Clute
issued, "Our Ferns in Their Haunts." Between these flourished D.C. Eaton,
Davenport, Waters, Dodge, Parsons, Eastman, Underwood, A.A. Eaton, Slosson,
and others. All their works are now out of print except Clute's just
mentioned and Mrs. Parsons' "How to Know the Ferns." Both of these