HAEDY FERNS. 



IT is with, great pleasure that we commence writing about 

 these lovely plants the Hardy Ferns ; and that pleasure 

 arises chiefly from the fact that any one possessing a few 

 perches of ground may grow most of the species that we 

 shall treat upon ; and therefore we are somewhat sanguine 

 that our remarks, the result of many years' experience, will 

 be, or may be, useful to a great number of our readers. It 

 also pleases us to write about them, because they are great 

 favourites with ourselves, as much so or more than any other 

 tribe of plants, always excepting the Orchids. " The labour 

 we delight in physics pain," was said by one of our greatest 

 poets ; by which he meant that any trouble we bestow upon 

 what we delight in, is compensated for by the pleasure we 

 anticipate and receive in doing it. Though these charming 

 plants are at this day grown by many persons, yet we think 

 the cultivation of them is on the increase ; and, we trust, 

 when our instructions are completed, and, we hope, under- 

 stood, that many more persons will be induced to turn their 

 attention to and enjoy the pleasures of growing them. 



They may be grown on the highest hills and in the lowest 

 vales. Many of them will bear the smoke of large towns, 



