FERNS: BRITISH AND FOREIGN. 



HISTORY OF INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC FERNS. 



Ferns now occupy a conspicuous place 

 JL in our gardens, and are in high favour with 

 cultivators, it is only in comparatively recent times 

 that they have been brought into notice. During the 

 last century certain classes of plants came into 

 fashion, and after a season of popularity again fell 

 into disrepute. Thus : Tulips were once the rage. 

 At the time of the establishing of the several pro- 

 vincial Botanic Gardens, all of which were- founded 

 upon a strictly botanical footing, though many of them 

 have now, to a greater or less extent, degenerated 

 into places of amusement, the plants in greatest demand 

 were those of our New Holland and Cape colonies, 

 principally the Heaths, Proteas, Aloes, and their 

 kindred. In after-years dealers obtained large prices 

 for Cactuses; but, with the exception of a few of 

 the easily-grown and most showy kinds, these are 

 now scarcely saleable. Still more recently the magni- 

 ficent-flowering Orchids were promoted to the first 

 place in our gardens ; and though these may still be 

 said to maintain their position, the expense attending 



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