INTRODUCTION. XV 



" stepped " in the garden ground, or at the corners 

 of small rustic cabins, or as castaways on suggestive 

 rockwork : but still ever beckoning to the friend 

 that never hove in sight, or brandishing a cutlass 

 at the enemy that never came. 



In whatsoever guise our readers may regard me 

 under this figure of a figurehead, my own opinion 

 is that, as the effigy at the ship's prow is not of 

 much importance in the navigation of the vessel, so 

 neither shall I add much here to the sailing powers 

 of the ship — I mean book. 



If I say I hope it will "catch on," I do not 

 mean on rocks of iron-bound criticism. If I 

 express the wish that it may " go down " with the 

 public, I do not mean to the bottom, " with all 

 hands " that had a share in it. 



However, in being practically acquainted with 

 the culture of the Carnation and Picotee in their 

 highest — that is, in their florist types — my figure- 

 head position has so far a fitness that, as an old 

 grower of these flowers, I may symbolise the intent 

 and enterprise of the book. 



So would I raise a beckoning hand to those 

 lovers of flowers whom I may never see, and who 

 to this fair, sweet flower are " strangers yet " ; while 

 to hostile critics, whom I hope never to hear of, I 

 would hold the challenge ready to go and do the 

 work more thoroughly if they can themselves. 



To florist specialists I think this book, beyond 



