PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
XI 
being added by cultivation, or found wild. The exhi- 
bition from time to time of these so-called varieties at 
the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, and 
the awarding of first-class certificates, are indicators 
of the great interest in which the curious forms are 
held by amateurs. Varieties are also found amongst 
exotic species, especially in the genera Gymnogramma, 
Adiantum, and Pteris ; but these are comparatively 
few to those native of this country. 
That ferns still continue to be in favour with the 
plant-loving public, is manifest by the frequent public 
sales of large importations from abroad, especially of 
tree ferns, some of which are of large size, and valued 
as ornamental plants for conservatories, and at public 
or private banquets or balls, the prices varying accord- 
ing to height, from £5 to £50, or even more; high 
prices are also given for species of certain genera, 
such as Adiantum , Gleichenia, Todea, &c. 
With regard to cultivation, I have nothing to add 
to what I have already given in the first edition. 
J. SMITH, 
Ex-Curator, Royal Botanic Gardens, 
Kew. 
July , 1876. 
