X INTRODUCTION. 



the introduction of new species, while the names of the 

 older ones have been of the rarest occurrence in its 

 pages. 



There are, however, many signs of a reaction in their 

 favour at the present time. They may never occupy 

 the exclusive place they once did in gardens, nor is it 

 desirable that they should do so : but that they are des- 

 tined to rise high in popular favour again has for some 

 years past been very obvious. The prominent attention 

 they are receiving in the gardening periodical press, the 

 introduction of many of them into certain public gardens, 

 the incorporation of a few of their number in the ranks 

 of "bedding" plants, and the general spirit of inquiry 

 that is afloat regarding them, are all signs of their in- 

 creasing importance, and auguries of their future favour. 



I\Iany that are now turning their attention to inquire 

 after these plants find that the kind of information they 

 are in search of does not exist in a collective, handy, 

 and inexpensive form, and that it is only attainable at 

 great cost, and by wading through libraries accessible 

 only to the few, or by studying the plants themselves in 

 the various botanic gardens in which they have taken 

 refuge during the time of their eclipse. An attempt is 

 made in this work to supply the desideratum indicated. 



As regards the plan of the book, it is so simple and 

 self-explanatory as to call for no special remark here. 

 It is, perhaps, novel, in so far as relates to the arrange- 

 ment of the genera and species in their natural orders ; 

 that feature, so far as I am aware, being new to books 

 specially devoted to the instruction of professional and 

 amateur cultivators of flowers. To friends competent 

 to give an opinion on the matter, and to myself, that 



