THE 



> ^O^OOt-^C^Q-T^^^OOZ- 



Decembek, 1859. 



JS" the completion of the second volume of the Floral World 

 V AND Garden Guide an expression of sincere thanks is 

 due to subscribers, correspondents, and contributors, by 

 whose co-operation this work has attained to a position of 

 stability. In the production of a periodical work, success 

 is inseparable from usefulness, and the wider its field of 

 operations, the more extended are the benefits it may 

 confer on the community. The project of a monthly work on 

 gardening, combining the ability of a first-class work with the 

 jmpctitive power of the loAvest priced among popular periodi- 

 :-als, has so far succeeded, that, instead of lessening our 

 expenses on the ground that the work is established, we have 

 determined to increase them, that we may be worthy of increased 

 patronage, and of that high jjlace in the literature of journalism which 

 has been unanimously assigned us by those who have watched our pro- 

 gress, and taken interest in our prosperity. 



The very low price at which this Avork is produced has rendered very 

 careful calculations necessary, that the cost of paper, engraving, and 

 authorship should not exceed the produce of its sale, for it is the only 

 illustrated work of its class, and is published at one-third less than works 

 of a similar character, which are without illustrations. We shall not 

 sacrifice a fraction of the esteem in which we are held, nor abate the con- 

 fidence reposed in us, if we here confess that, however general and 

 enthusiastic are the expressions of approbation which reach us, we have 

 never yet been satisfied as to the way in which this work has been pro- 

 duced. Though it is impossible for any periodical to succeed unless 

 conducted with spirit and ability, it would be easy enough, in the grati- 

 fication of editorial whims and fancies, to make the outlay exceed 

 the returns, and the close estimates we are obliged to make has com- 

 pelled us to use a poor paper and an inferior class of printing to what we 

 should have adopted if the work had been published at the usual price 

 of sixpence. Very many correspondents have from time to time endea- 

 voured to impress upon us the advisability of increasing the price to that 



VOL, II.— NO. XII. N 



