PEEFACE. 



When I was a young man a plant of that grand old 

 Rose, the Chromatella, came into my possession. Desir- 

 ing to piopagate it, I visited a Scotch gardener in the 

 neighborhood and asked him to show me how Eoses were 

 budded, and was informed that propagating Eoses was a 

 "trade secret." This somewhat surprised me, as "trade 

 secrets " in gardening was a new idea to me, not having 

 at that time been introduced to the mystic shrine of the 

 craft. My reply to this statement was, " Well, sir, if I 

 live to be as old as you are, I will not only know your 

 trade secrets, but make them known to all who may de- 

 sire such information." The present work is in part a 

 fulfillment of the promise made so many years ago, and it 

 has never been lost sight of. 



While admitting that a more intimate acquaintance 

 with horticulturists and horticultural literature has 

 somewhat modified my earlier impressions as to the 

 general secretiveness of the profession, especially as to 

 the more intelligent members, yet there are many who 

 are still very chary of giving information about the best 

 modes of propagating the plants they cultivate, and in 

 visiting their establishments we may see ""No Admit- 

 tance " over the door of the propagating house, probably 

 placed there to more fully impress upon the minds of 

 visitors the idea that the proprietor or his gardener is an 

 important personage, and that behind this sign are trade 

 secrets of vast importance and value. But it will be 



(VII) 



