May 1, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
553 
THE FERN WORLD.* 
In all ages of gardening Ferns have been general 
favourites, holding their places while many other 
claimants for the plant lover’s esteem have passed into 
comparative oblivion. Go where we will, in gardens 
large or small, we find them lending their graces and 
heightening the beauty of the other plants arranged 
with them. Even where no glass houses are, the hardy 
Fern-nook or rockery may often be met with, and failing 
that the Fern-decorated jardiniere or Wardian case in 
the dwelling-house is frequently one of the prettiest and 
most cherished objects, and one which the owner, if 
bereft of, would miss more than many other valuable 
things. Notwithstanding, however, the widespread 
love exhibited for the Ferns, it is surprising how little 
of that information respecting them, which adds con¬ 
siderably to their interest, is possessed by their owners. 
To pleasantly spread such information in his previous 
works on Ferns has been the author’s object, and the 
great demand for each of his books testify in the best 
possible manner to their appreciation by the public. 
It is the great encouragement which he has met with 
in this direction which has determined Mr. Heath to 
specimen of the many interesting facts conveyed 
throughout the whole work. 
Mr. Heath says, “ Although the descriptions of 
Ferns given in Part V. of this work have been restricted 
to the British species of these beautiful though flower¬ 
less plants, it must be remembered that the same 
species are widely distributed over the world, occuring, 
amongst other places, more or less throughout America 
and the English-speaking dependencies of the British 
Empire. Of the fifty species of Ferns, for instance, 
which are inhabitants of the United States of America, 
no less than sixteen, or about one-third, are also natives 
of Britain. Canada, also, includes a considerable 
portion of the British Ferns amongst its Cryptogramic 
flora ; and throughout the whole of North America are 
to be found no less than thirty of our forty-five British 
species. One-lialf, too, at least, of our British Ferns 
are to be found in the Himalayan Mountains. If we 
turn to the Antipodean range of the Fern world, we 
find that New Zealand, with its glorious wealth of 
Fern life, contains a not inconsiderable number of the 
British species ; and it is worthy of especial remark that 
both Britain and New Zealand are the richest in Ferns 
their native wilds, with the aid of Mr. Heath’s book, 
to all so afflicted ; and as prevention is even better than 
cure, even the most robust should take the hint and 
avail themselves of this pleasant and health-giving 
relaxation. To all who are interested in Ferns, their 
habits, structure, and cultivation, The Fern World 
cannot be too highly recommended. 
-- 
ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE 
FLORISTS’ AURICULA.* 
( Concluded from p. 535.) 
Let us now make a brief study of an Auricula with 
reference to the facts that are before us. In certain 
characters it is constant. The leaves are stout in 
texture, often leathery, sometimes slightly cartilaginous. 
The flowers are always in a many-flowered visible umbel, 
never, like those of the primrose, appearing singly from 
a concealed umbel. The floral bracts are short, never 
like those of P. calycina, longer than the flower stalks. 
The corolla is distinctly contracted below into a tube 
and expanded above into a salver ; it is never contracted 
into a cup or goblet, as in P. sikkimensis. The dusting 
enlarge, amplify, and still further embellish with 
numerous illustrations and coloured plates his already 
well known Fern World, the result being that in the new 
edition under notice he has succeeded in producing a 
work of surpassing merit, pleasantl}' written, scientific 
enough, and containing information on every point 
respecting Ferns likely to be of use to the amateur, 
either as a student of these lovely plants in their homes, 
or as a Fern collector, raiser, or cultivator. 
The author, in the First Part of this work treats of 
the germs of Fern life, conditions of growth, structure, 
classification, distribution, uses, and the folk-lore of 
Ferns; the Second Part relates to Fern culture, soil 
and aspect, general treatment, propagation, Fern 
gardens, rockeries, houses, &c. ; the Third and Fourth 
Parts to Fern hunting and rambles through Fern lands, 
all of which subjects are dealt with so skilfully, and 
expressed in such brisk and cheerful language, as to 
render them pleasant reading without diminishing 
their practical and scientific merit. Part V., ex¬ 
tending over some 250 pages, is taken up by a careful 
description of our British Ferns, accompanied by 
excellent nature-printed coloured plates of each of the 
leading kinds of this part of the book. It will be well 
to quote the author’s own remarks, as they give a fair 
* The Fern World. By Francis George Heath. Fourth 
Edition. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington. 
in their respective latitudes. The author, therefore, 
trusts that Section V., no less than the sections of the 
volume which relate to the whole world of Ferns, may 
possess an interest for English readers beyond the 
narrow limits of the British Isles. ” 
A careful perusal of the work under notice enables 
us to say that it is one of general interest throughout, 
and one which will be sure to gain converts to the 
pleasures of Fern study. What could be more pleasant 
than when holiday-time comes to take the author by 
the hand, through the medium of his pleasant book, 
and accompany him to those lovely scenes of natural 
beauty, embellished by the graceful frondage of the 
Ferns, which he so graphically describes and illus¬ 
trates. There, aided by the life-like pictures as a 
means of identification which can admit of no doubt, 
even those who have no knowledge of Ferns can in a 
short time learn all about them, and at the same time 
pass the hours, pleasantly and profitably enjoying those 
sweets which a study of nature’s works always brings. 
Such a sweeping direction as “Throw physic to the 
dogs, ” like most other such, are not applicable in all 
cases, but as a cause of the demand for it arises from 
ennui with its attendant horrors, which fasten on so 
many with such terrible results ; as a remedy which we 
are sure would bring a radical cure in many cases, we 
venture to recommend a study of our British Ferns in 
with protective meal is not a distinguishing feature ; 
but its abundant appearance as a decorative character 
of the exhibition flower is strikingly characteristic, 
and though it may be said that by long continued 
crossing and selecting its appearance there may be 
regarded as the work of the artist called Man ; yet his 
work is limited, not only by the capabilities, but by 
the disposition of nature. The powder belongs to the 
face of the flower, although its quantity and arrange¬ 
ment may be an exaggeration of nature’s intentions. 
The show of yellow in the colouring of the flower is a 
constant character. This is a colour wanting in many 
of the supposed parents. It should be borne in mind 
that the flowers of highest quality represent long- 
continued and severe selection ; and therefore in an 
exhibition, or .even in the general stock of the culti¬ 
vator, we do not see the entire character and possibilities 
of the flower. The seed-bed offers the raiser many that 
he will simply destroy, because of their non-conformity 
to rules ; and amongst the condemned will be many of 
the so-called fancy flowers, that have no body colour, 
and approximate to the species. It should be remem¬ 
bered, too, that all the edged flowers have green edges ; 
for although classed as green, grey, and white, it is 
only the relative density of the meal that makes the 
* Paper read at the Primula Conference by Mr. Shirley 
Hibberd. 
