PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
N EARLY ten years have now elapsed since my 
“ Catalogue of Cultivated Ferns ” was pub- 
lished. During that period many new and fine species 
have been introduced to the gardens of this country. 
I have therefore been induced to draw up the follow- 
ing enumeration, including in it all the species that 
have come under my notice in a living state, either by 
the evidence of plants in the Kew collection or by 
specimens from living plants sent me from various 
sources. 
Thinking it might be interesting to Fern growers, 
I have drawn up a brief history of the introduction 
of Exotic Ferns from the earliest records to the present 
time. 
In order to assist students in the study of Ferns, 
an explanation is given of the principal organs and 
terms used in describing them, as well as remarks 
on their classification. I have also given an alpha- 
betical list of the generic names, accompanied with 
the derivation of each name. 
Great complaints are frequently made, and not with- 
