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first place, we think that a careful perusal and a study of 

 the very varied articles which appear in the " Gazette " 

 will show that the very few simple fundamentals of 

 Fern culture, and particularly the hardy Ferns, of which it 

 is only necessary for us to treat, are sufficiently often 

 clearly indicated as to serve perfectly well for the guidance 

 suggested, while in the second place the primary object of 

 the " Gazette " is to keep the hobbyist, i.e. the more or less 

 advanced cultivator, up to date as regards the progress of 

 the cult in the way of fresh discoveries and improvements. 

 In point of fact, if he remembers that Ferns are most at 

 home in broken leafy soil under shady and moist con- 

 ditions, and like all other plants, if of extra delicate make, 

 must be sheltered from blustering winds, in order to display 

 their charms to perfection, the intelligent beginner holds 

 the key to the entire position, and must, as with all other 

 cultural hobbies, perfect his knowledge by actual experience. 

 In the vast majority of cases, the varieties are as hardy 

 and lend themselves to precisely the same treatment as 

 the normal species. In short, to devote much space in 

 the " Gazette " to cultural suggestions on beginner's lines 

 would, we venture to think, tend to water down as it were 

 the special matter which it is our aim to disseminate, and 

 the best plan for the beginner is to acquire a reliable 

 standard work on our British Ferns, their varieties and 

 culture, such as the writer himself has endeavoured to 

 produce. (Vide Advt. on Cover.) 



C. T. D. 



NEW FERNS. 



Four Fresh Varieties. 



In writing to congratulate our Editor on the completion 

 of the second volume of the " British Fern Gazette" — an 

 achievement for which the Society owes him more gratitude 





