12 OKITAMENTAL GARDENING. 



in the subject. ^\e support but one periodical — a 

 monthly, devoted to general ornamental and useful gar- 

 dening. In London alone, there are published no less 

 than five periodicals devoted to the subject, and these 

 are weeklies, of large size. I make no mention of agricul- 

 tural and other papers with good gardening departments, 

 nor of the monthlies and "guides" that are issued by 

 seedsmen and florists, for advertising purposes, as these 

 are found on both sides of the Atlantic. The interest in 

 the subject in England is also indicated by the numerous 

 books treating on gardening. 



Such facts show that the English possess a much 

 greater love for, and knowledge of, everything pertaining 

 to gardening than do Americans. They also explain 

 why many of our own native trees, shrubs, and flowers 

 are better known and appreciated abroad than at home. 

 These native trees, etc., are often introduced into cultiva- 

 tion abroad and are sometimes brought back into our 

 own gardens through the enterprise of foreign nursery- 

 men and gardeners. 



America:^' progress ix special braxches. 



To conclude that Americans are unable to appreciate 

 beauty in the products of the gardener's art, would be a 

 mistake. If we suffer by comparison with Europe, as re- 

 gards general ornamental gardening, we may turn to the 

 progress we have made in some special branches of the art, 

 and from this take hope for the future. W tlie produc- 

 tion and consumption of cut flowers, we see something 

 like American spirit and enterprise. Millions of dollars 

 are invested in the growing of flowers and plants, to 

 meet a popular taste that hardly seemed to exist some 

 fifteen years ago. Erom a small beginning this trade has 

 developed year by yenv, until now we actually have 

 reached a standing as producers and consumers of flowers, 

 that is looked upon as another "American Wonder." 



