INTRODUCTION. 



Familiarity with a flower does not always in- 

 clude a knowledge of its name and family. This 

 little volume is intended properly to introduce many 

 familiar characters. We are better pleased to know 

 the golden-rod, virgin's bower, and blood-root by their 

 titled names — Arguta SoUdago, Clematis of Vir- 

 ginia, and Sanguinaria of Canada. But the book 

 goes a step further and supplements the introduction 

 with a little friendly gossip based on personal experi- 

 ence. Alas ! personal experiences are all more or less 

 different, so I must be pardoned for occasionally ap- 

 pearing to disagree with those whose wide experience, 

 profound research, and scientific training entitle them 

 to acceptation as unquestionable and final authorities. 

 But opportunity is often the means ^'hereby one 

 may arrive at truths not always in the possession of 

 the most learned ; and the fact that I have seen the 

 Atamasco lily in bloom in May and even earlier in- 

 clines me to the belief that the same opportunity was 



