“ The fertile fronds grow almost vertically and are two or three times as long as the sterile ones which are simply ascending. The fertile fronds no doubt grow this way because it is more important for the preservation and increase of the species that the spore-bearing parts of the plant should receive every advantage due to better light, more air, etc., than than the sterile fronds should avail themselves of such advantages. ”

“ No part of Botany is more interesting, and no branch of it is in my opinion easier than this. Few plants are so apt to hide away out of sight as Ferns. Yet after you've hunted for them all over the mountain side you may find them close by the road from which you started. ”

“ I don't think we are naturally any more enthusiastic than other people, but we can tell just when and where we found such and such little rock ferns years ago and now and then a finding of a rare one in an unexpected place does us more good than it would to find a purse of money, (the owner would be sure to come for that.) ”