70 
THE FERN FAMILIES OF BRITAIN. 
and persevering, and of the forms in cultivation which are 
most desirable to procure as the nucleus of a collection. We 
are particular in italicising the word nucleus, in order to 
impress upon our readers what we have already stated regard- 
ing the merely representative nature of the types we have 
selected, and the existence of a great number of other forms 
which, though fully worthy of specification on the score of 
distinctness and beauty, our space limit has forced us to 
exclude. For some of these we can only refer to the published 
catalogues of the few nurserymen who make a specialty of 
British Ferns. Extended experience will bring with it a 
knowledge of other varieties, amongst them some of the very 
choicest, which are only procurable by way of favour or 
exchange among the confraternity of amateur Fem-lovers 
who raise or find new forms on their own account. 
The special cultural remarks attached to each species will 
be found to be Nature’s own teaching, and the logical outcome 
of a study of their habits and habitats. 
