HISTORY OF INTRODUCTION OP EXOTIC FERNS. 3 



species, I have thought that a few pages devoted to 

 the history of these plants in its connection with our 

 gardens might prove acceptable. My own personal 

 knowledge dates from about the year 1822 ; and for 

 information respecting those in cultivation previous 

 to that time, I have taken for my guide the most im- 

 portant and most reliable of the garden catalogues. 



The first work upon which dependence can be placed 

 for the early-introduced species is the so-called second 

 edition of the " Hortus Kewensis," published by the 

 younger Aiton, in 1813 ; I say the so-called, for there 

 were in reality two previous editions one by Dr. John 

 Hill, in 1768, and a second by William Aiton, in 

 1789. In the first of these only ten exotic species 

 are recorded as being in the garden at Kew, which 

 then belonged to the Princess of Wales, but the 

 dates of their introduction are not given; and in 

 the second, that of the elder Aiton, thirty-four, all 

 of which have the name of their supposed introducer 

 attached to them, and the date at which they were 

 introduced. I here give preference to the last edition, 

 as I know, from personal intercourse with the com- 

 pilers, that great care was exercised in its prepara- 

 tion, particularly with regard to the rectification of 

 dates, and I shall take it as the basis of my remarks. 

 But, in the first place, it is necessary to say a few 

 words in defence of that work. It has been 

 asserted that a considerable number of the plants 

 enumerated in the ( ' Hortus Kewensis " never existed 

 in a living state, either in the garden at Kew or 

 elsewhere in this country. This statement, however, 

 is merely supposition,, and rests upon questionable 

 authority. In the early days of Kew Gardens, large 



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