CHAPTER VI. 



WHAT IS A FERN ? 



"\ T 7E have made no attempt in the preceding 

 chapters to offer any help in the study of 

 ferns. Botany is a beautiful science, and those 

 who have time and opportunity will find almost 

 endless instruction and amusement in studying it ; 

 but, as we have shown, there are very many who 

 do not possess the necessary time and opportunity. 

 All that we have attempted to do, is to give 

 such general descriptions of those of our native 

 ferns which are to be seen in the west of England, 

 as might conduce to the more extensive artificial 

 cultivation of these beautiful plants. Of all the 

 varieties which we have named, we have not in 

 any one instance given such a minute description 

 as might enable the young botanist accurately to 

 distinguish one from another. 



7 



