VI 
THE A UTHOR TO THE READER. 
secure for him a patient hearing on the part of 
those whom he desires to please and to benefit. 
The earnest purpose of this little volume, then, 
is that it may assist in developing the popular taste 
for Ferns in such a way as to lead to the more 
extensive cultivation of these graceful and beautiful 
plants in our gardens and in our dwelling-houses ; 
nay, even so far as such an arrangement would be 
practicable, in our places of business, wherever 
they may be. 
The author claims to have originated the idea 
which these pages will unfold. He has noticed — 
and many others have doubtless done the same — 
that within recent years there has been in our cities 
and towns a great development in the practice , of 
what is called “window gardening.” This practice 
has not been confined to the humbler classes. 
Rich and poor have come now to adopt “ window 
gardening” to a much greater extent than formerly ; 
and so far as the poor are concerned, attempts 
have been made by philanthropic persons and by 
philanthropic associations to foster and encourage 
the new taste. The wealthy, when they have not 
