CHAPTER II. 



WHAT IS A FERN r 



T will have been seen that we have 

 made no attempt in the preceding 

 chapters to offer any help in the 

 study of Ferns. Botany is a beauti- 

 ful science, and those who have 

 time and opportunity will find almost endless 

 instruction and amusement in studying it; but, 

 as we have shown, there are very many who do 

 not possess the necessary time and opportunity. 



All that we have attempted to do, is to give 

 such general descriptions of those of our native 

 Ferns which are to be seen in the west of England, 

 as might conduce to the more extensive artificial 

 cultivation of these beautiful plants. Of all the 

 varieties which we have named, we have not, as 



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