INTRODUCTION 



In presenting the present volume, the author can 

 lay but little claim to originality. The work was un- 

 dertaken to supply the want, which has long been 

 felt, of a trustworthy handbook of garden-flowers ; one 

 which should comprise a short treatise on the culture 

 of hardy perennials, biennials, and annuals, as well as 

 the more show}^ family of bedding-plants. In a work 

 of a few hundred pages, it is manifestly impossible to 

 dve minute directions for the successful cultivation 

 of every plant. The volume is not intended to teach 

 gardening ; but, a knowledge of the several principles 

 of gardening — the preparation of the soil, the appli- 

 cation of manures, the sowing of seed, the formation 

 of hot-beds — being presupposed, it is proposed to 

 teach the peculiar culture each plant may require, to 

 o-ive the soil in which it best succeeds, and to furnish 



o 



a condensed list of species and varieties best adapted 

 to garden culture, with the height, color of flowers, 

 season of bloom, native country, and date of intro- 



