PREFACE. 



THE general purpose of the series of Hand-lists of the 

 plants cultivated in the Royal Gardens which is in 

 course of publication, and of which the present one is a 

 part, is sufficiently indicated in the preface to that which 

 enumerates the trees and shrubs. 



The collection of Ferns, whether tropical or temperate, 

 is perhaps, next to that of Palms, the most important 

 feature of the cultivation under glass in the Royal 

 Gardens. 



A special interest attaches to it, because it has been 

 used so much in the preparation of most of the books and 

 papers dealing with ferns which have been published in 

 this country during the last half century. The celebrated 

 botanical artist, Francis Bauer, was resident draughtsman 

 for 50 years (1790-1840) to the Royal Botanic Gardens at 

 Kew, and the beautiful series of analytical drawings of 

 ferns which he made were published by Sir William 

 Hooker, after his death in 1842, with descriptive letter- 

 press and additions, under the title of Genera Filicum. 

 During the 25 years (1840-1865) for which Sir William 

 Hooker was the director of the gardens, his attention 

 was specially concentrated on ferns. Under the title of 

 Specie* Filicum he published an elaborate work in five 

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