PREFACE 



T 18 THE PURPOSE OF THIS WORK to make a complete 

 record of the status of North American horticnltm-e as it 

 exists at the close of the nineteenth century. The work dis- 

 cusses the cultivation of fruits, flowers and garden vegetables, 

 describes all the species which are known to be in the hor- 

 ticultural trade, outlines the horticultural possibilities of the 

 various states, territories and provinces, presents biographies 

 of those persons not living who have contributed most to the 

 horticultural progress of North America, and indicates the leading mono- 

 graphic works relating to the various subjects. 



It has been the dream of years to close the century with a comprehensive 

 index to American horticulture, and for a long period the Editor, therefore, 

 has collected notes, books, plants and information for the furtherance of 

 the work. Before the active preparation of the manuscript was begun, a 

 year was expended in making indexes and references to plants and litei'a- 

 ture. Every prominent plant and seed catalogue published in the United 

 States and Canada has been indexed, and the horticultural periodicals have 

 been explored. A dozen artists have been employed in various horticul- 

 tural centers to draw plants as they grow. Expert cultivators and botanists 

 have conti'ibuted on their various specialties. All the important articles 

 are signed, thus giving each author full credit for his work, and holding 

 him responsible for it. 



The work is made first-hand, from original sources of information. 

 So far as possible, the botanical matter has been newly elaborated from 

 the plants themselves ; and in all cases it is specially prepared directly for 

 this Cyclopedia, and is not the work of copyists nor of space-writers. In 

 many of the most important subjects, two authors have contributed, one 

 writing the culture and the other the botany ; and in some cases the 

 culture is presented from two points of view. When it has been 

 necessary to compile in comparatively unfamiliar groups, the greatest 

 pains has been taken to select authentic sources of information ; and the 

 --J proofs always have been submitted to recognized specialists. In fact, 



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