PREFACE. 



IN forming- this collection of Floral Emblems, 

 the first care was to avoid perplexity, by 

 creating new symbols, with such flowers as 

 have been previously used in the hierogly- 

 phics of the ancients or described in the 

 verses of the poets. 



Therefore, when the compiler found the 

 same plant made to represent more than one 

 design, he selected the emblem of the greatest 

 antiquity, or the one most established by 

 custom, and in some instances he has noticed 

 their various interpretations. 



