VI INTEODUCTION. 



study this interesting family scientifically we would recom- 

 mend the many works upon the subject published by Sir 

 W. Hooker, the Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew, 

 Mr. Smith's Catalogue of Ferns, and the "Index Filicum" 

 of Mr. Moore, of the Botanic Garden at Chelsea. We have 

 endeavoured in these pages to steer as clear of technicalities 

 as possible, employing but a few terms which are now in 

 common use among Fern-growers. 



The subject will be treated under the three heads of 

 Stove, Greenhouse, and Hardy Ferns. 



THE FERN-HOUSE. 



With regard to the house best fitted for the cultivation 

 of these plants, we shall quote the description of one given 

 by Mr. George Abbey, gardener to E. Hailstone, Esq., 

 Horton Hall, Bradford, which was originally published in 

 the Journal of Horticulture. It will be too large to suit 

 many of our readers, no doubt, but it will be easy to reduce 

 the size without losing sight of the principle. There are 

 many such houses already built, as, for instance, that of 

 Mr. Backhouse, of York ; and the plants look remarkably 

 well planted-out upon the rockwork, and trailing about in a 

 natural way over the rocks and stones. At present, however, 

 we much more commonly see them grown in pots. 



" The house that we intend to describe is of the follow- 

 ing dimensions: Length, 100 feet; breadth, 25 feet; and 

 estimated cost, 250. It may be constructed as follows : 

 First dig out for footings of walls until a solid foundation 

 is reached ; and should any difficulty be found in obtaining 

 a solid bottom, throw in concrete composed of one-eighth 

 slaked lime, three-eighths good sharp sand, and one-half 

 coarse gravel or broken stone rubbish. 



