1863.] NOTES ON SOME ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 585 



Notes on some Ornamental (mostly Greek) Plants, which are 

 commended to the notice of Nurserymen, Florists, and Amateur 

 Cultivators. 



The critic who judges the productions of nature enjoys an im- 

 munity from censure not conceded to him who criticizes works 

 of artj whether Hterary or pictorial. He who deals Avith the 

 current literature or art is sometimes censured for his good- 

 natured opinions, and not seldom for too much harshness. 



If he warmly commends a work by any of his contemporaries, 

 he is liable to the accusation of adulation, and to the charge of 

 fulsome flattery; while no bad motives are or can be urged 

 against him who praises natural objects. He may be deficient in 

 judgment, but his honesty and sincerity are rarely questioned. 



The writer of the following remarks on species, which are be- 

 lieved to be valuable both as commercial and ornamental objects, 

 is neither a florist, nor a nurseryman, nor an amateur; he is 

 nothing at all, not so much as a member or a fellow of any scien- 

 tific or literary body, — he is only a sincere lover of the beautiful, 

 the useful, and the good, whether in nature or in art, and his 

 views in presenting the following remarks are purely utilitarian. 



The plants from which the following selection is ofiFered were 

 chiefly collected in Greece, in the spring and summer of 1863. 

 They are selected from one of the largest collections ever brought 

 from the eastern part of Europe, and from the adjoining coasts 

 and mountains of Western Asia. A few are from the Pyrenees, 

 also recently brought to England, and presented to the reader's 

 humble servant by their collector. 



The writer will not take the liberty of publishing the name of 

 the gentleman to whom he is inde1)ted for these treasures, but it 

 will be given to any one who makes a private application to the 

 editor of this periodical. 



Several of the Natural Orders contain plants which are worthy 

 of a place in the shrubbery or on the lawn ; they are well adapted 

 for bedding purposes, and some might even grace the conserva- 

 tory. One paper or one essay will consequently contain but a 

 small portion of the selection believed to be worthy of a trial ; 

 but it is intended to continue the papers serially till the whole be 

 published. 



It is hereby announced that only the best have been selected, 



N. S. VOL. VI. 4 F 



