PREFACE TO VOL. III. 



Y the publication of the Third Volume " The Book of Choice 

 Ferns " is now completed, and it is hoped that, on account 

 of the scientific yet practical lines upon which it has 

 been written throughout, it will, as a whole, be duly appre- 

 ciated by scientists as well as by amateur and professional 

 gardeners. It will be noticed that the same care and attention which were 

 conspicuous in its early stage have been bestowed upon it to its last pages, 

 the Publisher having spared no expense to make it a work worthy of his 

 production, while no pains have been spared by the Author to render it what 

 may legitimately be considered a truthful Book of Reference and a work of 

 popular interest. 



All known species and varieties possessed of any decorative value have, at 

 the hands of the Author, received special attention and have been described 

 in full. Plants of more or less botanical interest, but useless from the 

 decorator's point of view, though not fully described, have, nevertheless, 

 been included in the enumeration, with remarks as to their habitats and 

 dimensions, and references to previous works in which complete technical 

 descriptions may be found. In so doing, the Author has been impelled by 

 the desire of overcoming the great difficulty of " drawing the line " at any 

 species or variety being by him considered a " Choice Fern." 



To make researches both easy and useful, an exhaustive Index to the 

 whole work has, at the suggestion of many Subscribers, been appended to 

 this volume ; and it is hoped by the Author, that, for practical purposes, he 



