PREFACE. 



HE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS, published by the same 

 Firm as Nicholson's " Dictionary of Gardening," is, like 

 that most useful of publications relating to all gardening 

 matters, intended to be the most complete of all popular 

 works written on the subject to which it is specially devoted. 

 In its compilation, the Author besides giving the public the benefit of a 

 knowledge acquired by over twenty years of observation and experience as 

 a practical cultivator has on his part neglected no opportunity of consulting 

 the accepted botanical authorities on the subject ; and, so far as the nomen- 

 clature is concerned, has almost invariably adhered to the line adopted by 

 Hooker and Baker in their " Synopsis Filicum," a work which is, and for 

 a long time to come no doubt will be, considered as the standard authority 

 on matters relating exclusively to Ferns. 



The Author would here briefly refer to the plan he has adopted in the 

 description of the genera and species, of giving in plain English the meanings 

 of the botanical terms used. " The Book of Choice Ferns " is intended as 

 a book of reference, especially for those who have not an every-day acquaintance 

 with scientific terms, and to whom a string of such terms would be tedious or 

 even unmeaning except to the industrious few who would go through the 

 labour of translating them by the aid of a glossary. But by the plan here 

 followed a double purpose is served, for whilst accuracy is not sacrificed to 



