CATALOGUE OF FERNS. 
.Tames Backhouse and Son have pleasure in offering to their friends a 
much larger and richer collection of Ferns than they have ever been able to 
do hitherto. The rapidly increasing popularity of this extremely interest- 
ing class of plants, combined with the large amount of personal pleasure 
tney derive from the cultivation of them, has induced them greatly to 
enlarge their stock. Many species noiv offered are quite new and of great 
leant!,. Some of the most distinct and interesting are specially named 
and briefly described in the first portion of tliis Catalogue. 
•T. 13. and Son also wish particularly to call attention to tlieir col- 
lection of Tree-Ferns; of which they possess about twenty-five species , 
esides several which are “ sub-arborescent.” It is with the belief that 
no class of plants will better reward the care of cultivators, that they 
recommend them to general attention. Of free and easy growth, many of 
these noble ferns rapidly produce crests of fronds, which rival and even 
exceed in beauty the palm trees of the tropics. What can be more 
magnificent than an arborescent Dicksonia, Cyathea, or Alsophila, with a 
trunk seven to ten or twenty feet high, and a crest of graceful fronds 
twenty or even ten feet across ? Or what more interesting than to watch 
Inc developcinent of these fronds as they unfold ? 
- : peeies of Tree-Fern thrive well in a cool shetiy ,g.m» 
rtificial heat, except for protection from frost 
heat is given in winter, these succeed admte 
- ,y, tne shade of the vines appearing to be thoroughly congenial. 
ana Son Believe that the time is rapidly approaching, when this 
tnUe 01 erns ’ now scarcely known to many, even by report, will receive 
tie attention which is justly their due; and that a new and very striking 
mature of interest will be added to a large number of the Ferneries° 
Conservatories, and Greenhouses throughout the country. 
(For special List of Tree-Ferns see page b.) 
