horticultural artists, in nearly every case under thy 

 eye of the Editor, or with the supervision of some 

 one of the sub-editors. No "trade" cuts are used. 



[n planning the illustrations, artistic effect has 

 been kept in view, and w^hile no drawing is used 

 which does not show its subject with perfect scien- 

 tific accuracy, the monotonous so-called "botanical" 

 outlines, often made from lifeless herbarium speci- 

 mens, are notably absent. The intention is to show 

 the life of the plant, not merely its skeleton. 



CONTRIBUTORS, SYSTEM, ETC. 



As above mentioned, the contributors are men 

 eminent as cultivators or as specialists in the various 

 subjects. The important articles are signed, and it 

 is expected that the complete work will include fully 

 5,000 signed contributions by horticulturists, culti- 

 vators and botanists. 



The arrangement is alphabetical as to the genera, 

 but systematic in the species. A very simple but 

 complete plan of key -letters is used, and the whole 

 arrangement is toward ease of reference as well as 

 completeness of information. To each large genus 

 there is a separate alphabetic index. 



Important commercial subjects are treated usually 

 under the best known name, whether it be the 

 scientific or "common" designation. Thus, the apple 

 is fully discussed as apple, rather than as Pyrus 

 Mains, and the carnation comes into view in the 

 third letter of the alphabet, not as Dianthus Caryo- 

 phyllus. Carefully edited cross-references make it 



