APPENDIX. 345 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF PERENNIAL AND ANNUAL FLOWERS, 

 WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THEIR CULTIVATION.* 



"Not a tree, 



A plant, a leaf, a blossom, but contains 

 A folio volume. We may read, and read, 

 And read again, and still find something new, 

 Something to please, and something to instruct." 



SUCH have been the diligence and perseverance of collectors of 

 plants, which have been sent out to all parts of the world, within 

 the last fifty years, under the patronage of wealthy individuals 

 and associations in Europe, that one would be led to suppose 

 that every nook and corner of the globe had been explored, and 

 that nothing more of interest coulcl be garnered up to gratify 

 the eye of the florist. 



But such is not the fact. Every year brings to light " some- 

 thing new, something to please, and something to instruct," from 

 the floral kingdom. But, however rare and interesting many 

 of these newly discovered plants may be to the florist, their value 

 for ornamental purposes cannot be compared with the value of 

 some of the improved old standard varieties of the flower garden. 

 The science, skill, and perseverance, of amateur gardeners and 

 florists, have transformed many comparatively inferior species of 

 flowering plants from a state of simplicity and inelegance, to that 

 of gorgeous magnificence. We can hardly believe our senses, as 

 we call to mind the great improvements that have been made in 

 many of the races of ornamental plants, with which we have for 

 years been familiar. 



Let us look at the Verbena, hardly known twenty years ago, 

 now sporting into every conceivable color and shade, excepting 

 yellow, always in bloom, and never tiring. Or the Portulacca, 

 with its shining scarlet, purple, yellow, orange, white, and varie- 



* In addition to those noticed in the first edition. 



