PEEFATOEY IstOTICE. 



If any explanation be required as to the appearance of a work of this 

 kind under Governuient authority, it may be stated tliat, probably 

 from my intimate knowledge of Australian ferns and large collection 

 of herbarium specimens, X am the only one here who could furnish 

 authentic specimens for tlie purpose. 



This work must imt be understood as prepared for the scientific 

 pteridulogist. It is for that far more numerous class, lovers and 

 cultirators of oar indigenous ferns, who, v.diile having a desire for 

 their names, find a difficulty in determining them froia published 

 descriptions, be such ever so plain and devoid of teclniicalitles. To 

 such these lithographic impressions should prove a grear boon, for 

 from them persons should find no difBculty in determining t)-e names 

 of all Queensland ferns which it may be desired to trans ;Mrt into 

 bush or green house. 



The preparation for publication of such a work as the one now 

 issued has been urged upon me, not only by the cidtivators of our 

 native ferns within the colony, but by others beyond, who find my 

 publications of service to them, and have liked the few lithographic 

 impressions by which certain few species have been illustrated. 



yerns at the present time are considered more in an assthctic than 

 economic light ; yet we must not forget that amongst our indigenous 

 species are those whi^h at one time, and perhaps at the present, serve 

 economic purposes. For instance, Qleichenia dicJioicma in Ei'azil are 

 used by the negroes in pipe manufacture, the stems being used for the 

 tube ; Angiopferis erccta and Pol tjpcnUtun pji ij tiia-tofles, both, oi vrhich are 

 common in Tropical Q.ueensiand, are employed by the natives of the 

 South t'ea Islands in the preparation of coconut oil ; and the rhizomes 

 of several in forujcr times furnished the natives of Australia with a 

 part of their food. 



It has not been deemed necessary that a letterpress giving 

 descriptions should accompany the lithograms. This would have m:;de 

 the book costly. The names, hov\'ever, are given on the plates, and a 

 reference to each where full descriptions cait be consulted. Had such 

 been given, and dissected drawings of the fructification been added to 

 ■the plates, the value of the work would have been greatly eiihauccd, 

 but it would have so far increased the cost of the bocdc as to have jiut 

 it out of the reach of the many who I hope will nov>- reap an 

 advantage from its publication. 



