WILLIAMSON'S "FERN ETCHINGS." 



THE interest in John Williamson's work aroused by Mr. 

 Davenport's article in the January Fern Bulletin makes 

 further information upon the subject very acceptable. 

 Through the courtesy of Mr. Edward C. Jellett, we are able to 

 publish herewith some extracts from a letter by Williamson dated 

 Louisville, Ky., Feb. 20, 1879, in which he refers to his proposed 

 book of fern etchings: 



* * * 44 Since I wrote you I have thought 



seriously over my second edition, and have changed my plan, 

 and I think you will be pleased with the idea. Instead of having 

 another edition of ' Ferns of Kentucky,' 1 have concluded to get 

 out a new work entirely, entitled 4 Fern Etchings.' This will con- 

 sist of etchings of all the ferns in Gray's Manual, including all 

 those, of course, that have been found recently in this geographi- 

 cal range. 



* 4 1 think I will have somewhere about 62 or 63. I will have no 

 generic views. The plates will be the same size as 4 Ferns of 

 Kentucky' (because I may have to utilize them afterward). I 

 will, of course, use the best plates I have, but all the poor ones I 

 will do over. I will have no descriptions, only the scientific 

 names and common names, printed on page opposite the illustra- 

 tion. This you see is just a collection of etchings, nicely bound, 

 10 x 12 inches, on Whatman's paper. The ornamentation on cover 

 will be Trichomanes radicans, printed in gold. Xow you see I 

 am not running any risk whatever. If I only get 10 subscribers 

 I can go on. I have no idea of getting many, but I think 1 will 

 limit the list to 100. It must be first-class in the true sense of 

 the term. 1 have made arrangements about my printing. Every 

 plate will be what would be termed in art circles an artisf s proof . 

 I have kept it the same price I wrote before, $10.00. 



44 I have been greatly encouraged in my work within these 

 few days, by receiving a charming letter from Philip Gilbert 

 Hamerton. I sent him a copy of 4 Ferns of Kentucky,' as editor 

 of the 4 Portfolio," London, and a few lines accompanying it. 

 You know he is a botanist as well as an artist, and his opinion is 

 certainly valuable. 



44 1 will just quote a few lines from his letter (please excuse 

 me) : 4 1 have not had time to examine it botanically, being as 

 usual very busy, but I have seen enough to convince me that it is 

 conscientiously executed. * * * * I think the illustrations 



