FOREWORD 



among them, the advice given will be readily 

 understood. Advice of any kind, in the ab- 

 stract, is seldom clear to the reader, but when 

 it is put into practice the puzzling things will 

 make themselves plain. That will be so in 

 this case the writer has good reason to believe. 

 Much of the information contained in this 

 book has been gained by the writer while 

 connected with prominent periodicals as editor 

 of their floricultural departments. While act- 

 ing in this capacity thousands of letters have 

 come to him yearly, and these letters have 

 told him what the amateur gardener most 

 wants to know. They have put him closely 

 in touch with the class for which this book 

 has been written, and he believes it will *'fill 

 a long-felt want," on this account. In this 

 hope he sends it out to all who love flowers. 



