Hooker in his hand-book of New Zealand flora, which was pub- 

 lished under the authority of the government of New Zealand. 

 This, however, only brought up the material collected to 1853, 

 and many more ferns have been discovered since — Lindsay a 

 viridis, TricJwmancs Artnstrongii, Hymenophyllum Cheese- 

 manii, Asplcnium Japonicitm, etc. — and the field is still wide for 

 further research. I am strongly of the opinion that there are 

 many parts of New Zealand which are as yet only partially ex- 

 plored, and I am confirmed in this from the fact of Asplcnium 

 Japonic uni having been found growing in the northern Wairoa 

 district within the last few years. This fern is said to be found 

 in the South Sea Islands, from whence it undoubtedly seems to 

 have found a footing in the northern part of New Zealand, where 

 it was first found by Miss Williams about eight years ago. It was 

 next found at Kaitaia, and when passing still further south was 

 found growing on the banks of the Northern Wairoa river. My 

 own idea is, that coming from a much warmer climate it will not 

 spread further into colder parts of the country but remain a 

 native of the warmer north. 



Coming now to the question of fern study it seems from all 

 that I have been enabled to gather, that it is mainly confined to the 

 scientific men connected with our museums, universities and 

 public institutions. Surveyors, too, engaged in various parts of 

 the country have in some instances taken great interest in the 

 matter, notably Mr. Field, of Whanganni, who has written a book 

 entitled. "The Ferns of New Zealand," said to be a very good 

 work on the subject, and a Mr. Dobbie, who some years ago pub- 

 lished two books of plates illustrating the ferns, which were very 

 useful in making the plants more generally known. Various 

 other books too have been written from time to time, with the 

 very excellent idea of trying to make the study more popular and 

 intelligable to the non-scientific. As yet there is no society of 

 members banded together for the special study of ferns as in 

 America, consequently there is not the same opportunity to com- 

 pare results which is so much to be desired. Considering the 

 differences that location, soil, and climate make in the different 

 varieties, and which are sometimes so puzzling even to the scien- 

 tific botanist, still I think the interest in ferns is increasing, as 



