408 



THE CKYPTOGAMIC STOVE. 



oftener placing them on back flues or shelves, Trhere they were seldom 

 seen, and as seldom attended to, in regard to watering, potting, &c. : the 

 consequence was, that most of the rare and delicate species introduced 

 have been lost from mere neglect. The best collections of ferns ^ith 

 which we are acquainted are those of Messrs. Loddiges, the Liverpool 

 and Glasgow Botanical Gardens, Mr. John Allcard, and the Kew Garden. 

 The latter collection may be said to owe its origin (at least as a respect- 

 able collection) to Mr. John Smith, the principal assistant, who is one of 

 the best Cryptogamic botanists of the present day. ^Ir. Smith has 

 originated most of the rare species in the Kew Garden from seeds brushed 

 off dried specimens in his ovm. herbarium. The Glasgow collection has 

 long been maintained by our excellent friend Mr. Murray, the curator, and 

 furnished many specimens to Sir W. J. Hooker for his splendid work on 

 this order of plants. The Liverpool Crj-ptogamic collection owes its origin 

 to IMr. H. Shepherd, who was perhaps the first practical British gardener 

 who succeeded in growing ferns from seed. The fine collection of Mr. 

 Allcard is in a great degree owing to the enthusiasm of Mr. Bevis, his 

 intelligent gardener, who, like ]\ir. Smith, has originated thousands of 

 young plants from seeds brushed off the back of dried specimens. 



^Ir. ^Yard, a medical gentleman of great respectabihty, has, we are 

 informed, a fine collection growing in the rooms of his house in Well- 

 close Square, London, one of the last places the ordinary cultivator 

 would have thought of to establish a system of plant cultm-e. The Hor- 

 ticultural Societ}^ of London has revived the culture of ferns by ofi"ering 

 prizes for the best cultivated collections brought to their exhibitions, and 

 this we know has so far acted as a stimulus as to have already induced 

 several cultivators to direct their attention to the subject. 



Although ferns do not display such a variety or briUiancy of colours as 

 many other tribes, still they are not wanting in interest to the lover of 

 plants, independently of the vast and interesting field which they open to 

 the scientific botanist for invesrigation. They are for the most part 

 evergreen, that is, under good culture ; a collection of them at all times, 

 and at all seasons, presents a very perfect whole when viewed in a house 

 by themselves. They do not associate well with other plants, excepting 

 mosses, many of which might be cultivated amongst them. They do not 

 appear to prosper if often removed, or even changed in their position. 

 The Orchide^ House appears to us to be the place best adapted to these 

 plants when a separate house is not dedicated entirely to themselves. 



So involved in mystery is the production of Cn-ptogamic plants by 

 seeds, that we cannot do better than give the following extract upon this 



