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The collection falls into three great groups : — (i.) 
Tropical; (ii.) Temperate ; and (iii.) Hardy Ferns. 
The Tropical Ferns are cultivated in No, II. House. 
The Temperate Ferns are cultivated in No. III. ; the 
Filmy Ferns have a separate House (No. II A.) con- 
structed for the special treatment which they require. 
The fine collection of Temperate Tree ferns is contained 
in the Temperate House. 
The Hardy Ferns are arrauged on and about a small 
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rockery, of the Key Plan, and forming the south 
boundary of Lawn L. 
The structural development of the buildings in which 
the collection is housed has kept pace with its growth. 
Their history may be given briefly. 
The Tropical Fern House (No. II.) is a span-roofed 
house 129 feet long, 34 feet broad, and 15 feet high in 
the centre. It has a wide transept on the south side, 
40 feet long, 83 feet wide, and 19 feet high. 
In 1841 the site of this house was occupied by two 
lean-to houses used for miscellaneous collections of stove 
plants. They are enumerated in Dr. Lindley's Report 
to the Treasury (1838) as Nos. 2 and 3 ; the former 
stood to the west and was 50 feet long ; the length of the 
other was 60 feet. It was in No. 2 that, as stated 
above, John Smith first arranged the nucleus of the 
collection of Tropical Ferns. 
In 1843, No. 2 was doubled and made into a span 
house. 
In 1845, No. 3 was entirely taken down and a new 
span-roofed house erected in its place. It joined on to 
