PREFACE 



book. Annuals have not been included, as their dates depend altogether 

 upon the time when their seed is sown. Of biennials but few are mentioned; 

 but of hardy perennials it can fairly be said that all are included which de- 

 serve a place in the garden proper, in the rock or wild garden, or which are 

 worthy of naturalization; and of tender perennials a few that should find a 

 place in every garden have been added. Large estates as well as small gar- 

 dens are increasing so rapidly throughout the country and so many new 

 and unfamiliar plants have come to enlarge the gardener's choice, that it 

 has seemed best to make this book offer all which the most varied taste 

 could wish for beautifying a great estate; but it is selection rather than 

 variety which the small gardener needs, and for his sake such plants as are 

 especially serviceable or exceptionally to be desired are marked with a 

 single or double asterisk. 



The details of this book have been almost infinite in number, and my 

 best thanks are due to all who have helped me: To Mr. Robert Cameron, 

 of the Harvard Botanical Gardens, for revision of all facts mentioned in 

 the book and for much valuable assistance; to Prof. Benjamin Watson, of 

 Harvard, for advice and encouragement; to Mr. L. T. Ernst for observing 

 many of the dates of flowering; to Miss Louisa-B. Stevens and Miss Turner 

 for the preparation of the color chart and, with the assistance of Miss Edith 

 May, for the skilful comparison of colors; to Miss Rose Standish Nichols, 

 who has conducted the book through the press; to Messrs. John L. 

 Gardner, J. S. Lee and J. Woodward Manning for many admirable photo- 

 graphs which I should have gone far to secure elsewhere; and to Miss 

 Elizabeth Dean for much devoted work. To all of these I feel greatly in- 

 debted for their real interest and assistance, and in a special sense I wish to 

 record the gratitude with which I shall always remember the unselfish and 

 unremitting assistance and encouragement given me by Miss Pauline 

 Brigham. 



For the rest I only hope that this book may help to make more gardens 

 lovely and more gardeners content. 



M. C. S., 

 BROOKLINE, MASS., Nov., 1906. 



