335 
CULTIVATION. 
1. Preliminary Remarks. 
H AVING- given an account of how the Exotic 
Ferns of the preceding enumeration have been 
introduced to this country, I shall now proceed to state 
the best means for growing and preserving them in 
our collections; and as the successful cultivation of 
Ferns depends much upon a knowledge of the con- 
ditions under which they grow in their native country, 
I begin with a few observations on that point. 
Ferns have already been spoken of as favourites 
with the plant-loving public ; but it is not simply on 
their merits as pretty and interesting objects that they 
claim attention. Geology reveals to us that Coal — 
that source of our domestic comforts and national 
greatness — is formed chiefly of Ferns, which at some 
remote period grew upon the earth. However, this is 
not the place to discuss the views and speculative 
theories regarding the thermal and gaseous condition 
of the earth and atmosphere, under which Ferns then 
flourished, or to reason on the manner by which they 
were converted into coal. I may simply remark that 
fossil remains show, that contemporaneous with 
Ferns grew plants of remarkable character, quite 
