PREFACE 



proportion of our native ferns during a single sum- 

 mer, and it is still more surprising that so few efforts 

 have been made to bring them within easy reach of 

 the public. 



I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to the 

 many books on our native ferns which I have con- 

 sulted, but more especially to Gray's " Manual," to 

 Eaton's " Ferns of North America," to the " Illus- 

 trated Flora" of Messrs. Britton and Brown, to Mr. 

 Underwood's " Our Native Ferns," to Mr. William- 

 son's " Ferns of Kentucky," to Mr. Dodge's "Ferns 

 and Fern Allies of New England," and to that excel- 

 lent little quarterly, which I recommend heartily to 

 all fern-lovers, the " Fern Bulletin," edited by Mr. 

 Willard Clute, of Binghamton, N. Y. 



To the State Botanist, Dr. Charles H. Peck, who 

 has kindly read the proof-sheets of this book, I am 

 indebted for many suggestions ; also to Mr. Arthur 

 G. Clement, of the University of the State of New 

 York. 



To Miss Marion Satterlee thanks are due not only 

 for many suggestions, but also for the descriptions 

 of the Woodwardias. 



The pen-and-ink illustrations are all from original 

 drawings by Miss Satterlee and Miss Alice Jose- 



vi 



