PREFACE. 



I. . 



" C - , now that you have finished your book about 

 the trees, I wish you would make another, this time 

 about our native shrubs." 



"Why?" 



" Partly because I want to know the shrubs as I have 

 learned to know the trees, and partly for another reason. 

 You remember the little place I have in the country ? " 



" Yes, a pretty place that could be made prettier." 



" Well, I had thought of finding a gardener and telling 

 him to stock it as he chose, but I have a fancy that the 

 result would be better every way if I and the children 

 were to search the woods and so stock it for ourselves." 



"And you want me to help you in your miniature 

 landscape gardening." 



" I want you to help me to know all our shrubs, and 

 among them to know the best for the garden and the 

 lawn. Will you ? " 



" Yes." 



In the introduction to The Trees of Northeastern 

 America, I referred to the interest which one who visits 



