INTRODUCTORY. 
21 
fronds of darker colour, which grow in the shady 
nooks into which we are so pleased to retire out 
of the noonday heat,—we have left the sunlight 
and the flowers for a time, and we revel in ‘ cool 
grot and mossy cell,’ but we do not mean to stay 
there. Now, if any one has observed Ferns 
growing on a rockery in a little dark court, or in 
a tiny strip of garden where nothing else will 
flourish, especially if he looks at them in the 
gloomy weather which is the portion of Londoners 
for the greater part of the year, we appeal to him 
whether the sight has not added to his melan¬ 
choly.’ The Author cannot conceive that such a 
sight should produce a feeling of melancholy. 
But if looking at Ferns alone in gloomy weather 
is calculated to excite such a feeling in any one, 
by all means let the one so affected avoid looking 
at his Ferns in gloomy weather. The Spectator 
says,— c For our parts, we would cultivate the 
Ferns certainly, but always, where practicable, we 
would unite them with flowers. In this way they 
are invaluable.’ In this suggestion the Author 
is most heartily with his Reviewer. He does not 
forget the advantages of contrast, and he would 
c 2 
