98 THE FERN PARADISE. 



We have simply endeavoured to create a general 

 love for the plants themselves, with the object of 

 showing that, exquisitely graceful and beautiful 

 as they are when seen growing wild in the situ- 

 ations which are natural to them, they will carry 

 that native grace and beauty with them wherever 

 they may be transplanted; with the object, too, 

 of urging that ferns should be grown in every 

 garden, and be found in every house, however 

 humble it may be ; for the lovely plants will 

 shed their soft charms no less in the cottage of 

 the peasant than in the mansion of the squire 

 no less in the garret window than in the handsome 

 conservatory. 



We do not write for those who have any 

 acquaintance with ferns ; we do not write so much 

 for those who live in the country as for those who 

 live in our cities and in our large towns, and who 

 too frequently are content to get their peeps at 

 ferns during their rare and occasional visits to 

 the country. There are few homes which do not 

 possess plants or flowers of some kind. Even 

 when a house has no garden attached to it and 



