VI INTRODUCTION. 



duction of each. This first plan has been somewhat 

 ampUfied ; and all hardy plants, comprising trees and 

 shrubs, have been included, until the present volume 

 comprises short and concise directions for the culture 

 of every plant usually met with in the garden, includ- 

 ing trees, shrubs, and climbers. 



The labor of compilation has been greatly lessened 

 by adaptations from two English works of somewhat 

 similar character, Glenny's " Handbook of the Gar- 

 den," and Johnson's "Cottage Gardener's Dictionary," 

 books of great value, but almost useless to the Amer- 

 ican florist on account of the great difference in cli- 

 mate between our own country and England, which 

 renders, in many cases, entirely different treatment 

 necessary in the culture of the same plant. 



Many plants which are hardy in England are not 

 hardy with us, while, strange as it may seem, some 

 plants which survive our severest winters uninjured 

 require frame protection in England. 



While the heat of our summer's sun will forever 

 prevent ouf raising such florists' flowers as Pansies, 

 Auriculas, and Pinks, in perfection, the same warm 

 summers enable us to bring many plants to a perfec- 

 tion of bloom unknown in England. The directions 

 for the culture of these florists' flowers are ample, and 

 the list of species of trees will be found very complete. 



