IV INTRODUCTION. 



the sale, of seeds and plants, it is expected that every inquiry 

 should be promptly and correctly answered, in good humor, and 

 as part of the trade. This it is always pleasant to do when 

 there is not a press of business ; but sometimes it is rather 

 trying. This book, therefore, may be said to have been partly 

 written in self-defence, or, more properly speaking, to give all 

 needed instructions deliberately and correctly, instead of doing it 

 in a hurry. The low price of the book will bring it within the 

 reach of almost every person. 



It was thought desirable to bring to notice many of our beau- 

 tiful indigenous plants and shrubs, as worthy of cultivation. A 

 handsome flower-garden may be made of these alone ; many of 

 them are within the reach of every one, and may be obtained 

 without money and without price. The care and trouble is all 

 the outlay, and this may be offset by the pleasure derived in col- 

 lecting them from the fields, woods, or meadows. 



The time of flowering and directions for sowing seeds, hardi- 

 ness, &c., correspond to the meridian of Boston ; but those in 

 different latitudes will find no difficulty in making the proper 

 allowance for the difference in location. 



The plan of this work was devised twenty years ago. and 

 more th-an three hundred pages of closely written letter-paper 

 prepared for it; but it was found, in the diffuse manner in which 

 it was commenced, that it would require a thousand pages to 

 complete it, and, as other business interfered, it was abandoned. 

 In looking over this old manuscript, I found that so many new 

 plants had been introduced, and such improvements had been 

 made in numerous species, that it would be of but little use in 

 this work. It was, however, to some small extent, incorporated 

 into it. Many articles on various subjects have appeared, from 



