iv PREFACE. 



previously contemplated. In treating the subject, no attempt will be 

 made to be scientifically systematic, from the botanist's standpoint. 

 Instead of the Flora of the United States, the work will embrace simply 

 a selection of the flowers and ferns indigenous to our country. It will 

 be an anthology in the truest sense of the word, and will not aim at any- 

 thing further than to cull the most beautiful, interesting, and important 

 from among the vast number of plants which grow in the different parts 

 of our country. Again, in order to secure the wide patronage which is 

 absolutely necessary to sustain an undertaking of this nature, it has been 

 deemed advisable not to devote the text exclusively to scientific descrip- 

 tions, but while making it accurate in this respect, to seek rather, by a 

 familiar treatment of the subject, to lift our native flowers out of the 

 confined limits of pure science, and thus to make the work serviceable 

 and accessible, not only to the botanist proper, but also to the practical 

 cultivator, and to the great body of intelligent people at large. 



It must not be inferred from this, however, that the work is absolutely 

 without system. It will be seen that the selection made for these two 

 volumes covers a wide range of country, and offers a number of represent- 

 atives of leading genera, chosen with reference to their various habits, 

 and to different geographical centres. These volumes are therefore 

 absolutely complete in themselves, and may be said to give a good gen- 

 eral idea of the floral wealth of our country. Those who are satisfied 

 with the knowledge thus obtained may rest here. But it is hoped that 

 the more enthusiastic lovers of flowers will welcome the succeeding 

 volumes, which it is proposed to publish after the conclusion of this 

 series. Each of the following series is also to consist of two volumes, 

 and to form a complete whole by itself. 



With such a plan of publication settled upon, and with the assistance 

 of a competent botanical artist assured, the author felt no hesitation 

 in again taking up his favorite project, more especially when Messrs. 

 L. Prang & Co. consented to become the publishers. The work of 

 Mr. Alois Lunzer, who painted from life all the plan's treated in these 

 volumes, the writer heartily commends, believing it will favorably com- 

 pare with the best hitherto attempted in this country, both as regards 

 scientific accuracy and pictorial excellence. To extol the merits of the 

 chromolithographic reproductions executed by the publishers would be 

 simply superfluous, in view of the widespread reputation of the firm, and 

 with the plates in this work before the eyes of the reader. 



Much of the success of the enterprise is due to the kindness of 



