36 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



tbey are the most elegant forms of vegetation known to us. The 

 common Lastrea in a half-starved state in a common garden border 

 is a glorious object ; but it is far more glorious when unfolding its 

 graceful fronds in a damp, shady wood, or in a well-kept garden 

 rocker3^ Let the cultivation of ferns be pursued, therefore, by 

 those who love it, without respect to the broad question we now 

 raise as to the comparative unfitness of the British climate for ferns 

 of all kindn. But the question does bear directly on the compara- 

 tively small results attained by oft-repeated experiments in the 

 planting of exotic ferns in English out-door ferneries. More than 

 this, it bears upon the experiments, and may be made the founda- 

 tion of a warning to all our readers not to be led away by certain 

 statements that have been made public, as to the adaptation of 

 numerous exotic ferns of noble proportions for permanent occupa- 

 tion of our gardens. We shall never be suspected of opposing 

 experiments in the acclimatizing of fine plants, for we have laboured 

 too long and too ardently in such endeavours to be open to doubt 

 upon the subject ; but experience has taught us some degree of 

 caution, and we are most anxious just now to guard our readers 

 against being led away by some rash assertions that have been made 

 as to the hardiness of several species of exotic ferns. The public 

 have been assured, on what is commonly termed a high " authority," 

 that the tree-ferns of New Zealand, and many of the Lomarias of 

 Brazil, may be made permanent residents of English gardens. This 

 we do not believe, and we hope none of our readers will be so rash 

 as to plant out valuable exotic ferns of any kind until assured on 

 what they consider sufficient authority, or convinced by personal 

 observation, that the species to be planted is really entitled to be 

 regarded as '' hardy." During the discussion of this question, it has 

 certainly met with the most sensible treatment in the Irish Farmer's 

 Gazette, the editor of which believes that some of the most favoured 

 spots in the " Emerald Isle " might be found warm enough for 

 DicTcsonia antarctica, and a few other of the noblest nearly hardy 

 exotic ferns. So possibly some of the most snug retreats of Devon 

 might be suitable for them ; yet there must always be a risk, for the 

 recent severe frost did not greatly spare those luxuriant parts of our 

 isle which the gulf stream warms with its tepid waves. That it 

 would be very delightful to see the glorious tree-ferns of New 

 Zealand towering up in the midst of British Osmundas, Lastreas, 

 and Scolopendriums, no one can question; nor will the writer of this 

 cast even the minutest pebble at the enthusiast who looks forward 

 with hope to the day when such a thing shall be. Let the enthu- 

 siast hope, and while hoping, let him labour to bring about the 

 result (if it be possible) to which his hopes are directed. 



" Hope springs eternal in the human breast, 

 Man never is, but always to be blest." 



Now let US go, as is our wont, to the region of the practical. 

 There are plenty of subjective books on gardening, but the Eloral 

 "World is mostly objective, and we have before us a few objects on 

 which we wish to expatiate. There are some noble ferns of exotic 



