A WORD TO THE READER 



tf the following classification I do not offer an ex- 

 haustive list of hardy trees, shrubs, perennials or 

 annuals. Many are omitted that are choice, but 

 not quite hardy beyond the latitude of New York 

 City; also very expensive varieties are not included among 

 shrubs. I name those that I have actually grown, or am now 

 experimenting with. The nomenclature has been derived 

 from Nicholson's "Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening," 

 Asa Gray's "Field, Forest and Garden," R. G. Leavitt's 

 " Outlines of Botany," and Mrs. Loudon's "Gardening for 

 Ladies." 



In making color divisions, I have given "White Flowers" 

 the first place, because the majority of plants have one or 

 more white varieties. The cultural directions for those 

 grouped under "White Flowers" will not be repeated in other 

 lists, even though their names may appear, duly recorded as 

 special varieties, under other color lists. Should a plant have 

 no worthy white variety and appear for the first time under 

 "Blue" or other color, the cultural directions will accompany 

 its first mention, to which the reader will be referred for the 

 culture of subsequent varieties, that may occur in later color 

 lists; and so on throughout the whole Appendix. 



I have arranged this very simple, though seemingly com- 

 plex, classification, which catalogues each plant separately 

 throughout the different lists just as far as it has representa- 

 tives of pure color, in order to give amateurs every oppor- 



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