yi PREFACE. 
collection at this time occupied three hothouses, cover- 
ing an area of 6,570 square feet. 
I should, however, state that the greatness of this 
collection could not have been attained but for the 
powerful aid of the late Sir William Hooker, who also 
took great interest in the study of Ferns, as will be seen 
by the references to his works in the following pages. 
In the preface to the “Synopsis Filicum," speaking 
of the Garden collection, he says, “it is the finest 
in cultivation,” and “the formation of this fine collec- 
tion is mainly due to the exertions and ability of 
Mr. John Smith, who for forty-three years held an 
important position among the officers of the Royal ` 
Gardens. His knowledge of Ferns, and his writings 
on them, justly entitle him to rank among the most 
distinguished Pteridologists of the present day.” 
The above statement will, I trust, be sufficient to 
show that I have not written this work without long 
practical acquaintance and the devotion of much time 
to the study of Ferns, this leads me to hope that it ` 
will be found useful to, and worthy of the patronage 
of, Pterodologists and Botanists in general I must, - 
however, state that on account of my loss of sight 4 
the work is not so complete as I could wish. Lat- 1 
lerly my materiali have been obtained from books 
kindly lent me by Dr. Hooker, and from various S 
