THE AUTHOR TO THE READER. 
IX 
it is the exception to find gardens in the central 
parts of large towns. Small open spaces or yards 
may sometimes exist in lieu of gardens. But in 
such spaces everything has, too frequently, a bleak 
and arid aspect, except where “ boon nature ” has 
thrown down a few blades of grass or some hardy 
weed which can bravely live amidst uncongenial 
surroundings ; or where, perhaps, the occupiers of 
the houses which possess such dismal open spaces 
may have introduced shrubs, plants, or flowers in 
pots. In town suburbs gardens are more plentiful, 
and flower gardening occasionally is practised with 
great artistic effect. Even in town suburbs, how- 
ever, there is many a bleak uncultivated corner 
which might be subjected with advantage to the 
enlivening influence of plants. 
But the Ferns — why are not they brought into 
more extended cultivation ? Not because there 
is any disinclination to do so on the part of 
town dwellers. On the contrary, are the numbers 
not counted by hundreds of thousands of those 
who, chained to business in the heart of the 
great business centres, and consequently kept for 
