PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION. 



THE increasing interest which everywhere appears 

 about Ornamental Plants, and additional information 

 I have obtained since I published the last edition of 

 this little book now some years out of print lead 

 me to hope that a new edition may help many 

 readers in enjoyment of the loveliest of Ornamental 

 Arts. I think that, at the coming Meeting of the 

 British Association in Dublin, it may be useful to 

 visitors, and especially to ladies, lovers of horticulture, 

 and little aware how the various moist, mild climates 

 of Ireland suit different plants, native and exotic. 

 At one of the first of their meetings which I at- 

 tended, I was asked by the late Dr. Grray, of the 

 British Museum, and a few other eminent natural- 

 ists, to write for a contemplated British Fauna that 

 part relating to the conchology of Ireland; and feel- 

 ing it right to decline this tempting invitation, I 



