PROSPECTUS OP AX 
Important Vv^ork on' Ferns. 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF 
The Ferns of North America. 
Text by Prof. Daniel C. Eaton, of Yale College. 
Illustrations by Mr. Jas. H. Emerton. 
Publisheil by 
S. E. CASSINO, NATURALISTS’ AGENCY.- 
Salem, Mass. 
Tiic need ot Ji eaivCully Jiml thoronifldy wnvk on tiio .Vnicvicnn 
Ferns, has heeii lelL i)yl.li(ise. stinlvin^ llK*^^c l)oaiilirul phinp. .\s vet, no work 
wiiatever has marie its appearanee whielj eniil.aiii.< even a iloseripthm ot all <'nr Auieri- 
ean species, ami tho lew tiiai have been l!y;ure<l at alt, are fouml seattererl tlinuifio so 
many loi'eigu works that it is finite inipff.'-sihle to It ml 1 licin, pn eii in an excellent, liliraiw . 
l*ri)l'. Eaton has for a ionjf lime luul in laniteniplation the wi’itinj;' of a work whicli 
should possessall IherequiretneiiLs id' a sc.i(Md;i lie student ami at the same time he so pop- 
ular, and so t!nu‘ouj<hIy jllustrated t rtt those iiufainihir u it.h Imtanical methods eould ))e 
able with perfiM’t ea.«e toiietertniiu* an.v f>i' f)iir .\merh^an Ferns. 
Tlie ^freat cfist of preparitu? Uie plato.s. suiLahl\ drawm jiml coloroil, for illuslratniji' a 
w'orkof such extent, has until now. ilel)avreil )>ul>lisliers from undevtakiuH: Us publica- 
lion, .'lie umter.>'i,ifnetl has decided t»> iimh-rtake to publish the work, believing that he 
will he.siistainc'i by the Eotanisls <if AuKM’ica, and that. Ids hudlilies lor properly hriu>i- 
in<i- the work l>eldre t)ic scleiititU* worhl are unsurpa»ised. 
The services ol .Mr. J. II. Emerton, so well known for hi.s ivmarkiihly aecnral.e, ami 
highly li'ijshefl Natural llistoryflra wings, have been secured Pi illu.<rate the work. Mr. 
Enier Lon’s great experience as ii bot:iidr-aldiMUglit.sin‘in, and bis knowledge of Im tan, v \yili 
give assurance that the illustratimis will imt be excelled by any \et pidilislied and tbal 
(lie work will be a lit comiiaui.on to the ‘AVild Flower.-i of Ama ica,” now imbiislnng. 
Frof. Eit oil’s herbarium of Ferns is t'.ie largest in America a ml lieisconslantly in ivcei))! 
of aihlitifinal plants iVom all parl-w of the f'-ountry. He i.s ihei’pfore in a positifui to liel- 
Ler com Inc. t tlie work ami furnish the nece.ssary specimens forilluslralioiis than any other 
jierson. Jie.sides tlie labors of Fr.d'. EaPm ami Mr. EinorPm, Dr. (»ray of Famhridgfs 
lias expres.sed an interest in the undertaking and kindly oiVeivd the use of the extensive 
herbarium of tlie Uotanicvil (^ar<leii.-<, lor consu)tatii‘ti. The Mas.s. Iliirtieaillural so- 
ciety hasals(» freely f)ITereiltlie. use oft'io Davenport herharium of ferns. The puhli.shers 
will' also hav'e. the assistance Ifohinson, W’ell known asa Fern specialist. iMr. ( Jeo. 
E. Davenport ami Mr. (diaM. E. Faxon, ol’ Ho.ston, iMrs. Cooper of SanPi Ihirhara, Cal., 
and otliers in Noirifuis |virts f>l the ciountry, have kindly oil'erf'd their assi«<taiice. 
lion. j. Warren Merrill, widely known as having the largest amhnosl valnahle col lee- 
lion of American Ferns in cultivation, ha.‘< very liberally ollVred living specimens from 
any of his plants to he used in making the drawings ami in c>tloriiJg. 
Tlie Work w'iil be i-ssued In large (]ii!irto parts, at inti-rviils of about two months, 
which is as fast as the phite.s can lie prepared. In the course ol tlie puhliealion of the 
Work, everv species known) to inhaliU. the V. S. will t)e llgured. Each )»art will conlaiii 
three elegant -itfi plates, colored by Climnio Eitlmgraphy, giving exact rei»resentations 
of from one to three species each. The paper fm w'liich the platusnre printed will he the 
best ill the market. It will recinire about twamtv ]»ai'ts to complete the work. 
Tlie text will be printed in large beautiful new type by the wadi known linn of Hand, 
.\very ('tFo., ••n Kiiper-calendcred paper, imnie expres.sly for tliewurk. 
The Subscri])tian price, will be $1.00 jier i>art, which it is believed, i.s low'cr than any 
work of the same nature and <iualitv ye.1; published. 
P>i>tanists, wlio desire to jn.s])ect Pie work before .subscribing, will receive a sample 
plate and text, by mail upon applrcathm. 
For the bonelit of any young botanists wdio do not feel able to imrehas** the \york, the 
pulilisher olVers an opim'rl unity to obtain a copy, by ])roc.uring a few subscribers in 
their vicinity. Any lady can ‘easily obtain four suhscriliers for the Whirk among her 
friends ami ilnis secure a copy for iiothiiig. 
AGENTS WANTED. 
