THE FERN PAEADISE. 



to be useful, he must adopt the humble role of 

 an apologist, and give such preliminary explana- 

 tions of the object which he proposes to accom- 

 plish as may secure for him a patient hearing on 

 the part of those whom he desires to please and 

 to benefit. 



The earnest purpose of this volume, then, 

 is that it may assist in developing the popular 

 taste for Ferns in such a way as to lead to the 

 more extensive cultivation of these graceful and 

 beautiful plants in our gardens and in our dwell- 

 ing-houses ; nay, even so far as such an arrange- 

 ment would be practicable, in our places of 

 business, wherever they may be. 



The Author claims to have originated the idea 

 which these pages will unfold. He has noticed 

 and many others have doubtless done the same 

 that within recent years there has been in our 

 cities and towns a great development in the 

 practice of what is called ' window gardening.' 

 This practice has not been confined to the humbler 

 classes. Rich and poor have come now to adopt 

 'window gardening' to a much greater extent 

 than formerly ; and, so far as the poor are con- 



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