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tion with the American Fern Society. The purposes of the garden 
are twofold. In the first place it should add an attractive feature 
to the outdoor collections. Ferns look well almost throughout the 
year, and a considerable number are evergreen and last through- 
out the winter. In the second place it will serve as a depository, 
not only for as representative a collection of hardy ferns as pos- 
sible, but also as a testing place for desirable ferns which may be 
introduced and which are not known to be hardy. There is also 
further value in such a garden in that it will furnish a safe place 
for rare ferns which might be in danger of extinction owing to 
changes in the character of communities. For example, many 
sections of Staten Island, where formerly rare ferns were com- 
mon, have now become building lots, and agricultural operations 
in certain parts of the country have also disturbed the haunts of 
interesting ferns. 
“The garden site is a little hillock at the north end of the local 
flora section. At present it is partly covered with sumac and 
with a few scattered large trees. Construction plans call for the 
setting out of a number of tall-growing trees which will furnish 
the shade generally needed by ferns. The plans also call for a 
small stream to run around one side of the knoll, emptying into a 
small pool at the southern side, where the swamp and aquatic 
ferns can be grown. 
“The actual plots where the ferns will be growing are to be 
made as natural in appearance as possible, logs and rock walls 
will serve to separate different sections, the rock wall serving also 
for the kinds which prefer such an environment. 
“ A beginning on construction has been made covering a portion 
of the southern end. Several logs have been placed separating 
part of the slope into small beds or plots. During the fall nearly 
all the hardy ferns now growing in the gardens were installed in 
these beds, and all seem likely to thrive. A considerable number 
of ferns were sent in by members of the American Fern Society 
in response to a call in the American Fern Journal (vol. 6, page 
93), some of considerable rarity and interest. A collection of 
foreign, mainly European, species and varieties was purchased 
from H. A. Dreer, and given a special bed. The number of 
different kinds now installed is about seventy-five, and this un- 
