British Ferns. 73 



CHAPTER XI. 



BRITISH FERNS. 



1HE number of known ferns is about 3000. 

 How many are unknown we cannot even 

 rudely guess. The British species number 46 ; 

 many of these present us with varieties in great abun- 

 dance, that is to say, with forms diifering from their 

 types (or what we regard as types) , and these varieties 

 number full 500, and no living person possesses the 

 whole of them. It is not the business of this book to 

 treat of ferns botanically, nor to speak of the British ferns 

 exclusively, yet it would hardly be complete — restricted 

 as its object is — unless it contained at least one 

 chapter on the Filices of Britain, more especially as 

 many persons only cultivate the British ferns, and find 

 enough to amuse them in the fern way in making 

 collections of native species and varieties. Let no one 

 suppose a complete collection to be desired, for it is not, 

 except for strictly scientific purposes. It matters little 

 for our purpose whether it be desirable or not, for the 

 fact is, a complete collection has never been formed and 

 never can be. My excellent friend Mr. Sim, of Foots 

 Cray, Kent, enumerates in his last catalogue 365 

 British species and varieties in all — enough for us to 



