PREFACE. 



The termination of another volume of the Floriculturvl Cabinet 

 affording us the opportunity of acknowledging the many favours we 

 have received in connexion with the work, we verv gratefully record 

 our sense of obligation and thanks to our friends for the valuable 

 assistance afforded us, and by which we have been enabled to fulfil 

 the pledges given at the close of the preceding volume. 



Since the period when we commenced the Floricultural Cabin e r, 

 the devotees of the delightful science of Floriculture have very greatly 

 increased, and the certain result has been the continued improvement 

 in the art, and thus taste and skill have alike progressed; so that we 

 have abundant evidence to prove that, in no former year, has it been 

 equal to the past; and it affords us considerable satisfaction to be 

 assured we have been enabled, to some extent, to contribute in its 

 promotion . 



We were the first in commencing a practical periodical on Flori- 

 culture alone, and an impulse was then given to the delightful science 

 of Floriculture that has regularly progressed to its present extent and 

 eminence. Since that time, some other periodicals on flowers have 

 been commenced, in entire hostility to ours. The proprietors, lacking 

 useful information which would render the publication worth pos- 

 sessing, it was judged the abuse of others would tend to the attainment 

 of their object; if replies could be procured, it would bring their 

 works into notice, and excite a desire to see the originals. We have 

 never been disposed to retaliate, or impose any replies on our sub- 

 scribers by occupying our pages with them. Several of these publi- 

 cations have had their very limited period of circulation ; and, not 

 being considered worthy of support by those able to estimate their 

 character, they have terminated their career; not before, however, an 

 offer had been made to us, to allow them to be incorporated with the 



