APRIL. Ill 



THE "CENTURY OP FERNS." 



Ferns have now become so essential as component parts of all good 

 collections of plants, that we are glad to welcome any publications of a 

 character to place correct information respecting them within reach of 

 the cultivator. And we do this the more readily, as Ferns are them- 

 selves somewhat difficult objects of study, so that a superficial knowledge 

 of them is scarcely separable from a greater or less amount of error. 

 This arises from the extreme difficulty which is found to exist, in 

 clearly defining the species of Ferns by those technical phrases which 

 botanists call specific characters. Their differences are often only 

 differences of degree, so that words, though applied with skill and caution, 

 often fail to convey to the mind of the reader a correct idea of the 

 intention of the waiter. Hence the value of faithful illustrations. 



The book^ of wdiich the title stands at the head of this notice, is one 

 of the most recent contributions in illustration of Ferns ; and that it is 

 an acceptable contribution will follow, when it is stated that it 

 combines the learning and scientific acumen of a Hooker, with the 

 precision and artistic skill of a Fitch. It comprises figures of one 

 hundred new or rare Ferns, from the pencil of certainly one of the 

 most talented botanical artists of the day ; and corresponding descrip- 

 tions by one of the most eminent of English botanists. When w^e 

 testify that each — both artist and author — has well done the part 

 assigned to him, we can add no higher praise. The plates, which are 

 issued nicely coloured, as w^ell as uncoloured, are the same as those of 

 the last and recently published volume of Sir W. Hooker's '' Icones 

 Plantarum ; " and the publisher has here reproduced them on larger 

 paper, for the special use of the admirers of Ferns. The getting up 

 of the book is highly creditable to all concerned in its production. 



Having thus rendered justice to the book and its author, we proceed 

 to indicate some of the information it affords, as specially interesting to 

 Fern cultivators. The vast resources afforded by Sir W. Hooker's 

 unrivalled herbarium are here made to subserve the wants of the 

 cultivator, by showing him in what direction his efforts may be best 

 applied towards the introduction of species not already in cultivation ; 

 for, of the thousands of known Ferns, it must be remembered, that but 

 very few comparatively have yet been brought within the cultivator's 

 reach. Confining ourselves to our present text, the " Century of 

 Ferns," we find figures of no less than nine species of the beautifully 

 dehcate group of Trichomanes and Hymenophyllum, not one of which 

 is yet in our gardens ; of Lindsaeas, almost unknown in cultivation, two 

 species are figured ; of Adiantum two ; of Asplenium some fifteen or 

 more ; of Cheilanthes three, and so on. 



Several very fine species from the mountains of India, which ought 

 to be within reach of enterprising collectors, are among the subjects 

 here figured. }Ve notice especially — Cheilanthes chrysophylla, which 



* A " Century of Ferns ;" being figures with brief descriptions of one hundred 

 new or rare or imperfectly known Ferns. By Sir W. J. Hooker. London; 

 W. PampUn, Frith Street, Soho, 1854. 



