72 Botanic Gardens. 



In the autumn of 1874, I saw two healthy speci- 

 mens of Dicksonia Antarctica in a nook amongst the 

 bamboos, in what is called the Bamboo Island at Fota, 

 in" the county of Cork, and I believe they have lived 

 well there since without further protection. For 

 gome years the same Tree Fern stood out in the 

 Island of Arran, down the Clyde. 



For the last few years, Mr. Andrews, before- 

 named, has grown [out of doors near Monkstown, 

 together with varieties of Pittosporum and other 

 New Zealand shrubs, one of its fine large Ferns, 

 which he believes to be one of the Todeas of that 

 country. Conversations with Mr. C. Mudd, since 

 his botanical searches in India, and inquiries which 

 I have made of other men of knowledge and prac- 

 tical experience, satisfy me that I am safe in expect- 

 ing to see successful trial out of doors in Ireland of 

 many foreign and very ornamental Ferns which as 

 yet have not been out one winter here. Mr. Mudd 

 tells me that he found varieties of Akophiia in India, 

 where snow was knee-deep, and sharp frosts betimes, 

 and where he likewise saw a species of the Palm Sea- 

 forthia new to him. 



At Powerscourt, at Bitton, at Lord Gough's villa 

 near Dublin, and in other places, I have specially 

 noticed isolated specimens of different foreign Ferns 

 from southern regions, and from North America, 

 Japan, and Continental Europe just enough to 

 show how little has been as yet done, and to encou- 

 rage perseverance and experiment. 



