PREFACE. 



ing taste for these, books on flowers must necessarily 

 treat upon the species or varieties in a more detailed 

 manner, in order to get at their peculiarities and re- 

 quirements. The more we learn about our flowers the 

 more we enjoy them ; to simply see bright colours and 

 pretty forms is far from all the pleasure we may reap 

 in our gardens. 



If I have not been able to give scientific information, 

 possibly that of a practical kind may be of some use, 

 as for many years, and never more than now, I have 

 enjoyed the cultivation of flowers with my own hands. 

 To be able to grow a plant well is of the highest im- 

 portance, and the first step towards a full enjoyment 

 of it. 



I have had more especially in view the wants of 

 the less experienced Amateur; and as all descriptions 

 and modes of culture are given from specimens suc- 

 cessfully grown in my own garden, I hope I may 

 have at least a claim to being practical. 



I have largely to thank several correspondents of 

 many years' standing for hints and information incor- 

 porated in these pages. 



J. WOOD. 



WOODVILLE, KlRKSTALL, 



November, 1883. 



