PUBLISHER'S PREFACE 
Since the publication of ''The Book of Choice 
Ferns " some years ago, quite a large number 
of fern-lovers have expressed a wish for a smaller 
volume on the same practical lines. The chief reason 
urged was one of expense, as it was contended, and 
with truth, that the large work was only open to the 
well-to-do, whilst the " million " interested had no 
really comprehensive book on the same lines. In 
deference, therefore, to the wishes so often expressed, 
the abridgment from the large work has now been 
undertaken. Necessarily, the enumeration of both 
species and varieties, and more particularly the latter, 
has had to be considerably restricted. Still, the 
object kept in sight has been to include therein 
all such as fairly merit being classed as choice," 
irrespective of novelty, and that at the same time 
are in cultivation in this country. 
All the valuable cultural notes that constituted 
such a feature in the larger work have been retained 
