vi THE A UTHOR TO THE READER. 



secure for him a patient hearing on the part of 

 those whom he desires to please and to benefit. 



The earnest purpose of this little volume, then, 

 is that it may assist in developing the popular taste 

 for Ferns in such a way as to lead to the more 

 extensive cultivation of these graceful and beautiful 

 plants in our gardens and in our dwelling-houses ; 

 nay, even so far as such an arrangement would be 

 practicable, in our places of business, wherever 

 they may be. 



The author claims to have originated the idea 

 which these pages will unfold. He has noticed 

 and many others have doubtless done the same 

 that within recent years there has been in our cities 

 and towns a great development in the practice of 

 what is called " window gardening." This practice 

 has not been confined to the humbler classes. 

 Rich and poor have come now to adopt " window 

 gardening" to a much greater extent than formerly; 

 and so far as the poor are concerned, attempts 

 have been made by philanthropic persons and by 

 philanthropic associations to foster and encourage 

 the new taste. The wealthy, when they have not 



