observer and student of nature, he discovered _Aspidium simulatum_
at Follymill, Seabrook, N.H., in 1880. (Whittier's "My Playmate," verse
9.) He discovered also the hybrid _Aspidium cristatum x Marginale_. He
published his little book, "Ferns and Fern Allies of New England," in 1896.
Died October 20, 1918.
EATON, ALVAH AUGUSTUS. Born at Seabrook, N.H., November 20, 1865. Studied
at the Putnam School in Newburyport, but was largely self-educated. He
took up teaching for several years, spending three years in California.
Returning East, he became a florist and began to write for various fern
journals, giving special attention to the fern allies. He prepared the
genera _Equisetum_ and _Isoetes_ for the seventh edition of "Gray's
Manual." He proved the keenness of his observing powers by discovering
several ferns new to the United States. Died at his home in North Easton,
Mass., September 29, 1908.
WILLIAMSON, JOHN. Born in Abernathy, Scotland, about the year 1838. He came
to Louisville, Ky., to live in 1866. A wood-carver by trade, he could work
skillfully in wood or metal, and after a time established a brass foundry.
His friend, George E. Davenport, writes of him: "He caught as by some
divine gift or inspiration the innermost life and feelings of the wild
flowers and ferns, and his marvelously accurate needle transfixed them with
revivifying power on paper or metal." His "Ferns of Kentucky," issued in
1878, was the first handbook on ferns published in the United States. He
died June 17, 1884, in the mountains of West Virginia, whither he had gone
for his health.
FERN LITERATURE
AMERICAN FERN JOURNAL. 1910. The American Fern Society. (Annual
subscription, $1.25.)
BELAIRS, NONA. Hardy Ferns. Smith, Elder and Co. London, 1865.
BRITISH FERN GAZETTE.
BRITTEN, JAMES. European Ferns. Colored Plates. Cassell & Co. London.
Quarto.
BUTTERS, F.K. Athyrium. Study of the American Lady Ferns. Rhodora,
September, 1917.
CAMPBELL, D.H. Structure and Development of the Mosses and Ferns. Macmillan
& Co. 1905. Ed. 2.
CLUTE, WILLARD N. Our Ferns in Their Haunts. Frederick A. Stokes Co. New
York, 1901.
Fern Collector's Guide. Frederick A. Stokes Co. New York, 1902.
The Fern Allies. Frederick A. Stokes Co. New York, 1905.
The Fern Bulletin. Founder and Editor. 20 vols. 1893-1912.
Combined with The American Botanist. Joliet, Ill. 1912.
CONARD, HENRY S. Structure and History of Hayscented Fern. Washing
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