Another of those humble shrubs which, though wanting in the beauty
afforded by flowers, is very generally sought and admired, is the
Sweet-Fern, at the very name of which we are inspired with pleasant
remembrances of spring. The Sweet-Fern is a common plant on all our
hills, the close companion of the bayberry, the wild rose, and the small
kalmia. It is bound into all the nosegays gathered in May, and is a part
of the garlands with which young girls crown the head of their
May-queen, before the eglantine has put forth its leaves, and when the
only flowers of the meadow are a few violets and anemones. This little
shrub occupies a wide extent of territory, mingling its incense with
almost every breeze that is scented by the rose. It is abundant in all
the North-eastern States and the British Provinces.
The Sweet-Fern is a peculiar shrub, branching in such a manner as to
form a perfect miniature tree, beautifully ramified with a neatly
rounded head. The leaves are agreeably aromatic, and shaped unlike those
of any other phenogamous plant, resembling a true fern-leaf, having
alternate indentations that extend not quite to the midrib. It is a very
grateful, not to say beautiful, ornament of our dry hills and pastures,
and is more admired than any other equally homely shrub in our woods.