INTRODUCTION 



TO THE ENGLISH EDITION. 



" A blessing upon the fragrance of sweet flowers ! and a thousand 

 blessings on the power that gifted their leaves with such a dowry." 



IN a compendious manual of this nature, it is not to 

 be expected that all the varieties of flowers can possibly 

 be introduced in detail ; it must be limited to those 

 which are most popular, and most generally cultivated 

 even they must be treated of, briefly. It at first occurred 

 to me, that it might be well to give a double column in 

 the Calendar, as in my former treatise on vegetables, 

 distinguishing the least necessary from the most essen- 

 tial. But with respect to Flowers, the second column 

 shall be abandoned, and those which it is least desira- 

 ble to cultivate shall be omitted, as all could not come 

 within the compass of this work ; and should my fair 

 readers take a peculiar interest in any particular plant 

 or flower which is not mentioned here, upon referring 

 to some of the approved authorities on gardening, they 

 cannot fail to acquire the information they seek for. 

 My limits preclude minute statement ; but I consider 



that I am addressing those whose love of the Flower 

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