C5 V 



PREFACE 



The Articles in tlie following pages, with alterations and 



additions, have been reprinted from Gardening by the 



Vi) kind permission of Mr. William Eobinson, in the hope 



' ^ that they may be useful to that very large middle-class 



5* who are owners or occupiers of gardens from one to 



^^^^'^ight or ten acres in extent, and among whom are found 



" some of the warmest supporters of Horticulture and 



Horticultural Literature. I am prepared to hear from 



1 my critics that the book has defects ; but the object I 

 t have kept steadily in view has been to make it as plain 

 t and practical as possible. If I have succeeded in this, 



^ I hope its faults, from a literary point of view, may be 

 ■ ' j^^dged leniently. I confess, too, I have been animated 



C by a lingering kind of hope that the book may be useful 

 ~ to some among the numerous body of young gardeners 

 f springing up all over the country, and for whom I feel 



the very greatest sympathy. 



:r E. H. 



o 



4 



21si! February 1887. 



304.S4 J 



