THE 



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BRITISH FERN GAZETTE. 



N.B.— Partly inevitably, partly accidentally, the whole of this number is from the 

 editorial pen, the next issue, however, will contain interesting contributions by Dr. 

 F. W. Stansfield, Mr. G. Whitwell, and, it is hoped, other lovers of the cult.— Ed. 



PREFACE. 



A resolution was passed on August 2nd, igog, at the 

 annual meeting of the British Pteridological Society at 

 Kendal, at the suggestion of Mr. Chas. T. Druery, V.M.H., 

 F.L.S., that a quarterly publication should be established 

 and issued dealing with British species of Ferns, particularly 

 from the varietal point of view. For many years the 

 encouragement of this special " cult " has been the object 

 of the Society, but as its records simply embraced reports 

 of the annual meetings, with only occasional additional 

 contributions of papers by the members, it was felt that 

 its utility was too circumscribed, and that in view of the 

 fact of the immensely increased popularity of the varietal 

 forms as decorative plants, it was essential to arrange for 

 greater publicity, and the periodical issue of such a 

 "Gazette" as that of which this number forms the 

 first issue. To the existing members of the " cult " it is 

 ^ unnecessary to dilate upon the wonderful development 

 -^ in British Fern varieties, which has been brought about 



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