PREFACE. 



the unscientific reader the meaning is made abundantly clear, and he is at 

 the same time, gradually and without special effort, made to acquire a proper 

 knowledge of the use of words which he will find of constant service. 



The word "leant" has been used throughout the work as explanatory 

 of the botanical term "pinnule," which means a sub-division of a compound 

 leaf. The word has been adopted as being the one appealing most directly 

 to the mind of the reader little versed in botanical terms, and also as the 

 one affording less ambiguity ; for it has been thought that the words " pinna 

 or leaflet" and "pinnule or leaflet of a leaflet, or sub-division of a leaflet," 

 might, when used in the description of the same plant, prove embarrassing 

 to the reader. The latter, when once acquainted with the word "leant"—- 

 which we find has been used by George W. Johnson, F.R.H.S., throughout 

 his excellent popular book on " British Ferns," published as far back as 1851 — 

 cannot possibly misunderstand its application. 



Through his liberality in producing exceedingly well-executed drawings 

 from nature, the Publisher, already well known to all concerned in horticultural 

 pursuits, has greatly added to the intrinsic value of the work, and it is to 

 be hoped that his earnest efforts will be as duly appreciated by the public — 

 for whom the book is intended — as they are by the Author, who fully acknow- 

 ledges these as a material and valuable help to his own endeavours to produce 

 accurate and reliable descriptions of all Ferns contained in it. In many 

 instances one or other of the marvellous photo-processes has been called 

 into requisition, as they give a result so far superior to and so much more 

 true to nature than any ordinary wood-engraving. In support of this the 

 Author would refer to the illustrations of the Nash Court and other ferneries, 

 and to the figures of Acrostichum scandens, Asplenium rutaifolium, &c, than 

 which it is hardly possible to imagine anything more satisfactory. 



The Author's grateful thanks are due to Colonel Beddome for per- 

 mission to reproduce many of the illustrations in his large works, " The 

 Ferns of British India " and " The Ferns of Southern India," to the 

 Authorities at Kew Gardens fot permitting drawings to be made there of 



