John Chambers wrote:
>
> --------
>
> Nicolas B. writes:
> | >I always thought this line was 'pulling bracken'.
> | >> Jonathan
> |
> | "Cutting" or "gathering" are far more likely, as noone in his right senses
> | attempts to pull bracken (unless he has a penchant for seriously lacerated
> | hands!)
>
> Huh? I've pulled up bracken with my bare hands, and I've never had
> any such problems. Bracken stalks only extend a short distance into
> the ground, and then rapidly split up into small roots. They pull out
> very easily, leaving the roots behind. Granted, you might have a
> problem with hundreds of them, as with just about any sort of plant,
> but light gloves would take care of that.
>
> Maybe you're thinking of some other fern species.
>
Agreed. You can clear bracken easily, I've cleared large areas of it
when I was kid - we used to make paths and spaces in it, and build dens
from it.
Ferns not so easily, I've got some of the big Scots ferns in my garden
and they are perennial with a big root clump at the base.
David
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