144 ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW 
The Fern 
Houses. 
importance. In 1845 it comprised 378 species ; by 1856 the number 
had increased to 504. Twelve years later, in a list prepared by Mr. 
Baker, 802 species and varieties are included, and 48 alhes of ferns. 
In 1895 the collection — exclusive of British ferns — contained 1,116 
species and varieties, and at about this number it still remains. 
The bulk of the collection is contained in two houses : No. 2 
(tropical) and No. 3 (temperate). A certain number — mostly tropical 
tree-ferns — are housed in the Aroid House (No. 1), 
and the larger temperate tree-ferns are planted in the 
Winter Garden. The hardy ferns are to be found in 
the Rock Garden, on the slopes of the mound covering the old ice- 
well, and on the margins of the Wild Garden near the Temple of 4 £olus. 
The chief Fern House (No. 2) first took its present form in 1868 ; 
but it dates back to 1843-5, during which period it was constructed 
by enlarging two old “ lean-to ” houses that stood on the same site. 
The south wing, originally a separate house built in 1861, was joined 
on to the main structure in 1868. The newly-constructed house of 
1845 was at first filled chiefly with a collection of orchids which had 
been presented to Queen Victoria by the Duke of Bedford, and by 
her Majesty transferred to Kew. These orchids, described at the 
time as forming “ a rich and inestimable collection,” do not appear 
to have succeeded here, and the house was ultimately given up to 
ferns. Between 1889 and 1892 it was rebuilt in its present form, 
the ventilating lantern was added, and the green glass, which had 
been in use for over forty years, replaced by the ordinary clear kind. 
It is now 129 feet long, 34 feet broad, and 15 feet high ; the wing 
is 40 feet long, 33 feet wide, and 19 feet high. 
No. 3 house, now devoted to the cultivation of ferns requiring 
a cooler temperature than those in No. 2, was built in 1892. It is 
60 feet long, 23 feet wide, and 13 feet high. Previous to 1892 the 
site was occupied by a T-shaped house also used for temperate ferns. 
Like the larger fernery, this was formed originally by joining two 
houses, one of which had been built as long ago as 1803. 
The leading idea to be borne in mind in the cultivation of ferns 
is that they should enjoy abundant moisture, both in the atmosphere 
Cultivation an d root. The maintenance of a high state of 
humidity in the house is essential even in winter. The 
necessity of copious watering at the root has suggested a system of 
cultivating many ferns, especially those with creeping rhizomes, on 
