INTRODUCTION. XXV11 



lection, and the uncommonly rich and beau- 

 tiful blossoms which they have produced the 

 last two or three years ; which circumstance 

 also served to convince me that the compost 

 which I had made use of was good, and the 

 treatment they had received was proper ; and 

 that in publishing the said Treatise and Cata- 

 logue, I might render an acceptable service 

 to the cultivators of flowers in general; the 

 latter, to direct the young and inexperienced 

 florist in his choice of good flowers ; and the 

 former, to assist him in the proper cultivation 

 of them. 



With what clearness and precision I have 

 executed the same, within the narrow com- 

 pass prescribed, I leave to the candid and 

 impartial reader to judge, whose approbation 

 and patronage I am anxious to obtain. 



To say that the design was at last hastily 

 formed, and as hastily executed, without the 



