[Illustration:  Noted Writers on Ferns W.N.  CLUTE, D.C.  EATON, F.T.  PARSONS, G. DAVENPORT, J. WILLIAMSON, L.M.  UNDERWOOD, W.R MAXON, A.A.  EATON, C.E.  WATERS, R. DODGE]

UNDERWOOD, LUCIUS MARCUS.  Born at New Woodstock, N.Y., October 26, 1853.  Spent early life on a farm.  Was graduated from Syracuse University in 1877.  After teaching several years in his alma mater and elsewhere, he became Professor of Botany in Columbia University.  He contributed numerous articles to the Torrey Bulletin, Fern Bulletin, and other scientific journals.  His scholarly book, “Our Native Ferns and Their Allies,” continued unexcelled through six editions.  He died November 16, 1907.

DAVENPORT, GEO. EDWARD.  Born in Boston, August 3, 1833.  A promoter and officer of the Middlesex Institute.  An accurate and diligent student of the ferns, his numerous articles were published in the Fern Bulletin, in the Torrey Bulletin, Rhodora, and in separate monographs.  He was a leading authority on the pteridophyta, and collected a large and choice herbarium of the native ferns, which he donated to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.  By his gentle manners and kindly spirit he won many friends, all of whom were proud to recognize his distinguished ability.  He cultivated many of our rare native ferns in his Fellsway home, at Medford, Mass., and freely gave specimens to his friends.  He died suddenly of heart failure, November 29, 1907.

WATERS, CAMPBELL EASTER.  Born in Baltimore County, Md., September 14, 1872.  Was graduated at Johns Hopkins University in 1895.  Ph.D. in 1899.  Was for a time a close student of ferns, and issued his notable book, “Ferns,” in 1903, containing his “Analytical Key Based on the Stipes.”  A chemist by profession, he has pursued that branch of science for the last eighteen years.  His address is Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C.

MAXON, WILLIAM RALPH.  Born at Oneida, N.Y., February 27, 1877.  Was graduated at Syracuse University in 1898.  Began as aid in cryptogamic botany, United States National Herbarium, 1899, and is now associate curator of the same.  Has specialized in scientific work on the pteridophyta, distinguishing himself by the excellence as well as by the large number of his publications, the more important being “Studies of Tropical American Ferns,” Nos. 1 to 6.  The Fern Bulletin, Torrey Bulletin, American Fern Journal, Fernwort Papers, et al., have profited from his expert and up-to-date knowledge.  He is president of the American Fern Society.

PARSONS, FRANCES THEODORA.  Born in New York, December 5, 1861. Nee Smith.  Married Commander William Starr Dana of the United States Navy, who was lost at sea.  As Mrs. Dana, she published, “How to Know the Wild Flowers,” in 1893, and within ten years more than seventy thousand copies of the book had been sold.  “According to Season” appeared in 1894.  In February, 1896, she married Prof.  James Russell Parsons, treasurer of the University of the State of New York.  In 1899 she published, “How to Know the Ferns.”  She combined a thorough knowledge of her subject with an easy and graceful style.