INTKODUOTUliY. 



fronds of darker colour, which grow in the shady 

 nooks into which we are so pleased to retire out 

 of the noonday heat, we have left the sunlight 

 and the flowers for a time, and we revel in ' cool 

 grot and mossy cell,' but we do not mean to stay 

 there. Now, if any one has observed Ferns 

 growing on a rockery in a little dark court, or in 

 a tiny strip of garden where nothing else will 

 flourish, especially if he looks at them in the 

 gloomy weather which is the portion of Londoners 

 for the greater part of the year, we appeal to him 

 whether the sight has not added to his melan- 

 choly.' The Author cannot conceive tbat such a 

 sight should produce a feeling of melancholy. 

 But if looking at Ferns alone in gloomy weather 

 is calculated to excite such a feeling in any one, 

 by all means let the one so affected avoid looking 

 at his Ferns in gloomy weather. The Spectator 

 says, For our parts, we would cultivate the 

 Ferns certainly, but always, where practicable, we 

 would unite them with flowers. In this way they 

 are invaluable.' In this suggestion the Author 

 is most heartily with his Reviewer. He does not 

 forget the advantages of contrast, and he would 



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