THE 



Q S \ 



December, 1858. 



O labour without hope or sign of success, must, iu 

 time, break the heart of the stoutest and the 

 strongest ; but to enjoy, from the outset, a large 

 measure of confidence and encouragement, must 

 elevate and cheer the weakest. In our little 

 venture, Ave have been fortunate in every sense, and 

 at the close of this, our first year's labour, we have 

 the gratification of informing those who have taken 

 interest in our progress, that the " Floral "World and Garden Guide " 

 is already established in a prosperous career, and enjoys the good 

 opinions of those to whom its pages are addressed. When we reflect on 

 the number of periodicals which spring up, and speedily disappear — not 

 always through lack of merit — we feel that we have every reason to be 

 grateful for the liberal manner in which we have been supported. 

 When we first addressed the horticultural public in these pages, we took 

 care to make very few promises, so that we have been enabled to per- 

 form much more than we proposed to do — a far preferable result than 

 any falling short of the anticipations of readers. As it is not, and never 

 will be, our custom, to parade our claims, or magnify our merits, we will 

 here content ourselves with a general expression of thanks to contri- 

 butors, correspondents, and subscribers generally. We have en- 

 deavoured to meet the wishes of all, as far as our limits and the 

 character of the work would permit, and, as far as we know, we have 

 answered every letter addressed to us, and in nearly all the cases, given 

 precisely the information required, and in such a form as to be useful to 

 others. As our correspondence increases, our labours and responsibilities 

 are multiplied, but our desire is to see it increase still more, that Ave 

 may have additional opportunities of usefulness, and realize to the full 

 that peculiar sympathy, Avhich, in the course of time, must groAV up betAveen 

 an editor and his readers — a sympathy Avhich softens many a hard task, 

 and makes the reading of hundreds of letters, only as the hearing of 

 kind words from as many friends. With the neAV year, Ave commence a 

 neAV volume ; and, meanwhile, conclude, in the good old English style, 

 by wishing our readers a " Merry Christmas, and a happy neAV year." 



VOL. I. — NO. XII. N 



