38 FERNS IN THEIR HOMES AND OURS. 



trated work in large quarto form, where every 

 species and the principal varieties of North-Amer- 

 ican ferns are to be represented by colored plates 

 drawn from the plants themselves by Mr. Emerton. 

 The text, as prepared by Professor Eaton, who 

 stands in this country at the head of pteridologists, 

 at once raises this work above the level of a mere 

 picture-book ; where, in less careful hands, publi- 

 cations of this class are apt to remain. The fact 

 that but about 150 species are to be represented 

 renders it possible to make an end as well as a 

 beginning to the book : so that with twenty-five 

 parts, containing three plates each, it is possible 

 to give it complete to the public ; while, with a 

 general work on plants, these limits must be indefi- 

 nitely exceeded. The five parts, with illustrations 

 of thirty species, already issued, have surpassed 

 the expectations of all ; and, by Professor Eaton's 

 valuable descriptions, the work is placed in the 

 first rank. 



Besides this, a more modest book, in octavo, on 

 the ferns of Kentucky, is nearly ready for publi- 

 cation. It is to be illustrated by etchings of each 

 species, made by the author, Mr. Williamson. It 

 will be an excellent work, and deserves a wide 

 circulation. T\i^o check-lists of North-American 

 ferns have appeared at different times : one by 

 Mr. William Edwards, on a single sheet, intended 

 only as an exchange list; the other, of 12 pages 



