NOTE TO THE AUTHOR S EDITION. 



It was " THE FERN PARADISE " which obtained 

 for the writer, thirty years ago, the much-prized 

 reputation of being " the Prophet of Fern 

 Culture," and if the earnest public object which 

 underlies all his writings on sylvan themes 

 secures support from the widely-extended host 

 of readers whom this inexpensive edition is 

 intended to reach, it will be followed by other 

 volumes in the same series. 



(Copy of a Letter received in 1887.) 



DAYTON, OHIO, 



UNITED STATES, 



February i^th, 1887. 



To FRANCIS GEORGE HEATH, ESQ., 

 UNDERWOOD, 



KEW GARDENS, 



SURREY. 

 DEAR SIR, 



I have frequently, during the last 10 or 

 j 2 years, been tempted to write to you, especially 

 so after the perusal of some one of your beautiful 

 works, describing Nature in her exquisite and 

 loveable beauty. Your " Fern Paradise ' : has 

 been particularly interesting to me, as also "Our 



