XIV PREFACE. 



carelessness or ignorance of its nurse, shall be brought in, 

 at the best, as plant-slaughter. 



It has not been attempted to make a complete catalogue 

 of every plant that may be reared in a pot or tub, but 

 such have been selected as are the most frequently so cul- 

 tivated ; and such as are most desirable for beauty of 

 form or colour, luxuriance of foliage, sweetness of perfume, 

 or from interesting or poetical associations with their 

 history. In the belief that lovers of nature are most fre- 

 quently admirers of beauty in any form, such anecdotes or 

 poetical passages are added, relating to the plants men- 

 tioned, as appeared likely to interest them. 



To avoid endless repetition, some few general observa- 

 tions are subjoined, but only such as are really general ; 

 and they will not be found to render a variety of references 

 necessary for the treatment of one plant, a necessity which 

 it is the chief aim of this little work to set aside. It is 

 hoped that any person desiring to know the treatment 

 proper for this or that plant, will find all the information 

 necessary under its particular head. The General Ob- 

 servations are comprised in so small a compass, that the 

 merely reading them over will probably be found sufficient. 



The love of flowers is a sentiment common alike to the 

 great and to the little ; to the old and to the young ; to 

 the learned and the ignorant, the illustrious and the obscure- 

 While the simplest child may take delight in them, they 

 may also prove a recreation to the most profound philo- 

 sopher. Lord Bacon himself did not disdain to bend his 

 mighty intellect to the subject of their culture. 



Lord Burleigh also found recreation from the cares of 

 state in his flower-garden. Ariosto, although utterly ig- 

 norant of botanical science, took even an infantine pleasure 

 in his little garden ; and we are informed by his son, that 

 after sowing a variety of seeds, he would watch eagerly for 



