ti 



INTRODUCTION. 



IN offering to florists, gardeners, and amateurs interested in horticulture, the 

 Handbook of Plants, I do so in the belief that it will, to some extent, fill a want 

 that has long been felt by thousands in this country the want of a concise yet com- 

 prehensive dictionary of plants. 



As a book of reference, it is believed it will take the place, for all practical purposes, 

 of the expensive and voluminous European works of this kind; and as it has been 

 written with a special view to the wants of the climate of the United States, both in 

 matters of propagation and culture, it will, in these important particulars, I flatter 

 myself, be found much more valuable than any European work of this class. 



Instructions for the culture of many important plants, such as the Rose, have been 

 given at length, and these articles, as in all my previous writings on horticultural sub- 

 jects, are a plain relation of the methods in use in our own extensive business. 



The scope of the work embraces the botanical name, derivation, and the lannaean 

 and natural orders of all the leading genera of ornamental or useful plants up to the 

 present time, together witk all important species and varieties, with brief instructions 

 for propagation and culture. 



A valuable feature of the book, particularly to amateurs, is the great care that has 

 been given to obtaining all known local or common names; and as the arrangement of 

 the book is alphabetical, any plant wanted can be thus quickly referred to under either 

 its scientific or common name. An Index is also added, where important plants or 

 modes of culture can be referred to at once. 



A comprehensive glossary of botanical and technical terms, together with general 

 horticultural terms and practices, is also given, which will be found of great value even 

 to the experienced horticulturist. 



I with pleasure acknowledge the able assistance I have received in getting up the 

 work from C. Hi. Allen, of Garden City, L. I., who for two years has lent his valuable 

 aid in researching and compiling as well as in writing many important parts of the 

 book. 



I am also indebted to the following books used as authorities in compiling the 

 Handbook of Plants: 



London's Encyclopaedia of Plants; Paxton's Botanical Dictionary; Paxton's Mag- 

 azine of Botany; Johnson's Gardener's Dictionary ; Macintosh's Book of the Garden: 

 Ehind's Vegetable Kingdom; Lindley's Treasury of Botany ; Orchid Grower's Manual : 

 Millers Gardener's Dictionary; Gerarde's Herbal (1597); Parkinson's Garden of Pleas- 

 ant Flowers (1629); Dodoen's Plants (1587); Gray's Manual of Botany; Chapman's 

 Southern Flora; Darlington's American Weeds and Useful Plants; American Agricul- 

 turist, of New York; the Gardener's Monthly, of Philadelphia, Pa.; and The Garden^ 

 London, England. 



PETER HENDERSON. 



Jersey City Heights, N. J., March 1st, 1881. 



