THE" 



Decembee, 1861. 



^Q^ HE close of the fourth year of the Feoeal "World 

 , <^ affords us a legitimate occasion, to express our thank- 

 Y fulness to our numerous friends who have aided us, 

 and whose assistance we yet hope to be advantaged 

 ^ . ^ with in. the future. This work has succeeded far be- 



3^) L yond expectations, and as at fii'st, so it is now, the cheapest 

 '■y garden journal extant. We dare not say it is the best, be- 

 cause of the old proverb, " Self-praise is no recommendation," but 

 we must conclude that it has so far served a useful purpose, for, 

 after all, success is a very fair test of merit. Our readers will best under- 

 stand that we have conscientiously endeavoured to do justice to the con- 

 fidence reposed in us, by comparing the issue for this year with that of the 

 first year of the publication. As we found increasing support, we were 

 enabled to effect successive improvements, and there is no work at the 

 price which attempts to compete Avith us, either in variety of matter or 

 profuseness of illustration. Though our circulation is extensive, and has 

 steadily increased from the first, we find that the expenditure, especially 

 in illustrations, verges closely upon the average incomings, and the price 

 of the work is so low, that if we were to sell a few millions instead of a 

 few thousands, we should have no great hope of being known throughout 

 the country as millionnaires. We have no claim on any of our friends to 

 do more than pay for the book and read it attentively, so we ask as a 

 favour, and not as a right, that those who really have found the Flokal 

 World useful and entertaining, will recommend it to their friends, so 

 that as old subscribers disappear — and the great enemy removes a few every 

 year — new ones may take their place to keep the Flokal Woeld revolv- 

 ing. We may make the request also with better grace by pointing to the 

 successive improvements effected. We have the assistance of able pens, 

 we give careful attention to all inquiries, and frequently spend hours in 

 preparing replies that amount to only a few lines of printed matter when 

 all is done ; as, for instance, when 0. P. Q. asks what particular flower it 

 is that looks like a ship in full sail, on the lake at Kew ; we go to Kew, 

 spend a day in the journey, and the reply to 0. P. Q. is, " The plant you 

 ask about is Navicularia fluviatilis," In fact, we have the interests of our 



VOL. IV. NO. XII. N 



