NT PREFACE 



many European dealers because those dealers supply American customers, to account 

 for species mentiojied prominently in European horticultm-al periodicals as well as in 

 American periodicals, and to insert such plants as are known to be subjects of exchange 

 or to be frequently in cultivation in any region, even though their names may not be 

 found in a commercial list. While it is intended to account for all the species in the 

 trade, it is not intended to name the garden varieties ; for the variety lists change too 

 rapidly for discussion in cyclopedic works. The mention of varieties in the leading 

 group-articles is more a matter of record than of recommendation. 



Care has been exercised to exclude species that are evidently not now of interest 

 to horticulturists, even though their names may be found in the literature; for the 

 introduction of many dead entries would not only violate the purpose to make a current 

 record, but would make the books too voluminous and would confuse the student with 

 too many names and details. It is desired that the treatment shall be contemporaneous, 

 and that it shall be rescued as far as desirable from the older glasshouse method of 

 transatlantic work. The Cyclopedia aims to account for the plants horticulturally 

 grown ^\-ithin its territory which are now the subjects of living interest or likely to be 

 introduced, to discuss the best practices in the growing of the staple flower and fruit 

 and vegetable crops, to depict the horticultural capabilities of the states and provinces, 

 to indicate the literature of the field, and incidentally to portray briefly the lives of 

 the former men and women who have attained to a large or a national reputation in 

 horticultural pursuits. 



The method in the Cyclopedia, in other words, turns about two purposes, — the 

 identification of species, and the cultivation of plants. Both are essential to an 

 understanding of horticulture. The former lends itself readily to usual cyclopedic 

 treatment; the latter expresses itself as a manual of practice. The combination pro- 

 duces an irregular Uterary product, but it is hoped that the result is not inharmonious. 



The cultural details involve special difficulties. The North American continent 

 presents so many conditions that advice for outdoor work cannot be too specific in a 

 work of this kind without leading to serious mistakes. What is advised by a good 

 grower in one place may be contradicted by a good grower in another place. Even in 

 under-glass treatment, in which conditions are largely artificial, difficulties often arise 

 in trying to apply in America the instructions given for European practice. It is not 

 possible for one to grow plants by a book ; in this work the cultural details are not 

 directions so much as statements of standard practice: this practice will need to be 

 con.siderably modified in many cases if the best result for special conditions or objects 

 Is to be .secured. In the former Cyclopedia the culture was often presented by two 

 persons of unlike experiences for the express purpose of meeting the needs of amateurs; 

 but readers seem to think this to be confusing and the practice has not been followed 

 in the present work. However, special effort has been made to secure the best cultural 

 advice for the plants requiring peculiar or particular handling, and this advice will be 

 found in the di.scussion of the different crops and plants under their respective heads; 



