40 REVIEWS. 
tional magnified drawings of pinnules (secondary divisions), ex- 
hibiting the fructification and venation, or nervation. The rhi- 
zomes, with the gyrate state of the frond before expansion, are 
generally represented. The hereditary genius and skill of the 
artist are ample guarantees that the drawing and colouring re- 
present the characteristic habits and appearances of the plants 
represented. 
The letterpress portion of the work, which amounts, with the 
index, to 88 pages, comprehends a brief introduction on the na- 
ture and object of the work : an explanation of scientific terms ap- 
plied solely to objects of this family, together with some general 
rules for their cultivation. This, with the classification, amounts 
‘to 8 pages; the remaining portion is confined to the description, 
the localities, and the cultivation of the individual species. The 
generic and specific descriptions are concise and technical; but 
these are followed by copious accounts of the frequency or rarity 
of the species, its habitats, its localities, and its characteristic 
habits, together with remarks on its size, outline, ete. We will 
now give our readers a sample of Mr. Johnson’s directions for 
growing Ferns. 
As Draining media he recommends: “1. Shards or fragments 
of garden pots broken to the size of an inch, or larger. 2. Frag- 
ments of sandstone, limestone, slate, ete., for forcing into the soil 
around the roots in planting. 3. Charcoal broken into pieces 
from the size of a filbert to that of a walnut.” As Soil: “1. 
Peat or bog-earth ; the best is that of a blackish or darkish hue 
and spongy texture. 2. Decayed leaf-mould, or rich garden soil. 
3. Loam; the best is of a yellowish hue, containing much vege- 
table fibre. 4. Sand; the white silver sand being preferable, 
though not essential. 5. Mortar from old buildings.” 
A compost of the first four im equal proportions is recom- 
mended, with the fifth for occasional use. ‘‘ The spot where the 
Ferns are to be grown should be sheltered from the direct rays 
of the sun, and if possible, not subject to the drip of trees. A 
bank of loose soil or garden mould mixed with brick rubbish and 
old mortar should be thrown up to the height of from two to four 
feet above the general level. In this bank, when settled, exca- 
vations are to be made for such species as require most moisture. 
In planting it is sufficient to supply the compost soil to the depth 
of 5 or 6 inches around the ball of the root. Around the deeper 
