The name is expressive; it is a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon _fepern_, and so shows that some of our ancestors marked its feathery form; and its history as a garden plant is worth a few lines. So little has it been esteemed as a garden plant that Mr. J. Smith, the ex-Curator of the Kew Gardens, tells us that in the year 1822 the collection of Ferns at Kew was so extremely poor that "he could not estimate the entire Kew collection of exotic Ferns at that period at more than forty species" (Smith's "Ferns, British and Exotic," introduction). Since that time the steadily increasing admiration of Ferns has caused collectors to send them from all parts of the world, so that in 1866 Mr. Smith was enabled to describe about a thousand species, and now the number must be much larger; and the closer search for Ferns has further brought into notice a very large number of most curious varieties and monstrosities, which it is still more curious to observe are, with very few exceptions, confined to the British species. FOOTNOTES: [91:1] See Brown's "Religio Medici," p. ii. 2. [92:1] It probably was the real belief, as we find it so often mentioned as a positive fact; thus Browne-- "Poor silly fool! thou striv'st in vain to know If I enjoy or love where thou lov'st so; Since my affection ever secret tried Blooms like the Fern, and seeds still unespied." _Poems_, p. 26 (Sir E. Brydges' edit. 1815). FIGS. (1) _Titania._ Feed him with Apricocks and Dewberries, With purple Grapes, green Figs, and Mulberries. _Midsummer Night's Dream_, act iii, sc. 1 (169). (2) _Constance._ And its grandam will Give it a Plum, a Cherry, and a Fig. _King John_, act ii, sc. 1 (161). (3) _Guard._ Here is a rural fellow That will not be denied your Highness's presence, He brings you Figs. _Antony and Cleopatra_, act v, sc. 2 (233). (4) _1st Guard._ A simple countryman that brought her Figs. _Ibid._ (342). _Ditto._ These Fig-leaves Have slime upon them. _Ibid._, act v, sc. 2 (354). (5) _Pistol._ When Pistol lies, do this; and Fig me, like The bragging Spaniard. _2nd Henry IV_, act v, sc. 3 (123). (6) _Pistol._ Die and be damned, and Figo for thy friendship. _Fluellen._ It is well. _Pistol._ The Fig of Spain. _Henry V_, act iii, sc. 6 (60). (7) _Pistol._ The Figo for thee, then. _Ibid._, act iv, sc. 1 (60). (8) _Iago._ Virtue! a Fig! _Othello_, act i, sc. 3 (322). (9) _Iago._ Blessed Fig's end!