INTRODUCTION, 5 
INTRODUCTION. 
It has become the practice of gardeners to speak of the 
plants used for decorative purposes as the plant materials of 
their art. These materials fall rather naturally into three 
classes: the woody plants used in landscape architecture and 
street planting, the herbs used for bedding and border planting, 
pools, etc., and the grasses of lawns. 
The present little volume is an attempt to make it possible 
for any careful observer to learn the generic and usually the 
specific name of any hardy tree, shrub or woody climber that 
he is likely to find cultivated in the eastern United States—apart 
from the extreme south—or in northern Europe, anywhere except 
on the more pretentious estates, or in nurseries or botanical 
establishments. It accounts for 247 genera and 782 species, with 
some 375 minor forms, or over I150 distinct kinds. These per- 
tain to 83 natural families. 
For a few hopelessly complicated genera, such as the haws, 
cotoneasters, mockoranges and roses, only a few of. the most 
easily recognized species have been admitted. Except for these, 
an effort has been made to include all but the rarer or newer 
species. By way of compensation for omissions, the common 
trees and shrubs of the orchard may be traced to their species, 
and also the commoner native shrubs and cover plants. 
It is assumed that the terms usually applied to the parts of 
plants are understood or will be looked up in the glossary by 
anyone who wishes to use the keys, and that he will quickly 
learn to make a small and not necessarily expensive pocket lens 
of about twelve-diameter magnification his inseparable compan- 
ion and helper: no further equipment is necessary except a good 
store of care, patient interest, and common sense. 
To keep the book inexpensive, and of a size to fit the pocket, 
identifications are provided for in concise keys. As a rule these 
