INTRODUCTION. 



The follo^ving short lessons for the cultivation of all the 

 popular flowers and plants will be acceptable to those who 

 grow a variety of subjects, and who have general garden 

 establishments. It ' has always been my aim to avoid 

 mystery — to use the plainest and simplest way of doing every- 

 thing, from the mixing of the compost to the perfecting of 

 the plant. I differ from most of the previous writers on the 

 culture of many subjects, for I recommend nothing that is 

 difficult to obtain or offensive in its nature. I have, as far 

 as I could do so, made gardening a pleasui'e. I do not pre- 

 tend that the numerous plants and flowers mentioned here 

 are all that could be cultivated ; but I will say they comprise 

 the best, the most popular, and the least troublesome of all 

 our floral beauties, and few persons will desire a better col- 

 lection than may be found among the subjects in the present 

 work. 



Some of the ordinary operations in a garden are described 

 at the beginning, that they may not have to be repeated in 

 treating of particular plants. I am thus enabled to say briefly, 

 " Shift this, or prune that, or repot the other," instead of going 

 over the same ground again when touching upon the numerous 

 plants, which, in fact, require the same treatment. Neverthe- 

 less, some of the most popular subjects have tempted me to 

 give particulai' directions, which are impressed upon the mind 

 of the grower by distinct lessons, simply because I know 

 many are apt to look for the article they require, and expect 

 to find all the necessary information under that one head. 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF A GREENHOUSE. 



A greenhouse is a structure for the protection of plants of 

 temperate climates, requiring in this country -but little arti- 

 ficial heat. In winter greenhouse plants should have an 



