7 
No. 2, which was kept afca somewhat lower temperature, 
but opened into it through a partition. The centre was 
filled up with slate shelf staging, and the sides with 
stone shelves. No. 2 was used as a stove for rare Palms 
and large Tropical Ferns. No. 3 was at first occupied 
by the Woburn collection of orchids presented by Her 
Majesty the Queen ; for this purpose it proved eventually 
unsuited. The orchids were gradually replaced by 
Aroidece and Ferns. Ultimately the latter obtained 
possession of the whole house. According to John 
Smith (Records, p. 334), the centre of the house was a 
raised sloping rockery, amongst which the plants were 
growing in a natural state, forming fine] bushy 
specimens." 
A small house for tree ferns was built in 1861 ; this 
was connected with the principal house in 1868, and 
now forms the transept. 
In 1879 the Tropical Fern House, which from the 
decay of the timbers had lapsed into an almost ruinous 
condition, was further severely damaged by the hail 
storm of August 3rd ; 1,152 panes of glass in it were 
broken. It was subsequently put into a thorough state 
of repair, but the collections received considerable 
damage. 
In 1887 the west end of the house was set back a few 
feet ; the staging was partly re-arranged and the broad 
path through the transept was made. 
The humid conditions necessary for the cultivation of 
tropical feros are unfortunately not conducive to the 
preservation of the structures ia which they are grown 
when they are built of wood. In 1889 it therefore again 
