7 
this kind is required. It is an acknowledged fact 
that there are more flowers cultivated in the Southern 
States than in any other portion of the country in 
proportion to our population. Northern florists 
have long since grown rich from Southern flower 
buyers, and where such a wealth of plants, exotic in 
origin and peculiar in habit, are found, the author 
is assured the perusal of this volume must prove 
both interesting and instructive. While this is not 
intended for the professional florist, as most of the 
simple instructions given are all well known to him, 
the writer is confident that its pages may be read 
with interest by the most practical. 
To go more fully into the culture of every known 
plant cultivated in the South would entail a volume 
many times larger than this, hence the omission of 
many plants not considered important, so as to be 
able to treat more fully the species most popular 
and most generally grown. . 
What gift is more charming than flowers? A 
queen may give them to a peasant, or a peasant to - 
a king. They transmit most fittingly the esteem 
entertained for individuals, for corporations, or 
nations. Nowhere can emblems be found that im- 
parts so happily the tender sentiment of a loyal 
heart for his lady love. They know no country or 
season, their message is the same in both hemis- 
pheres, and their mute sentences are as freely inter- 
