xvi INTRODUCTION 



them wholly into my confidence, warning them 

 against my many failures, and leading them up to 

 those works in which I feel I have attained success. 



I do not wish to convey by the foregoing state- 

 ment that I am afraid of the criticisms even of those 

 who consider themselves already proficient in either 

 of the subjects upon which I touch, as I feel that 

 they too may perhaps learn something by perusing 

 a work which is the outcome of long experience 

 and patient research. 



Let it be taken for granted that growers and 

 raisers of new plants do know good ones when they 

 see them ; many of them do, but, after all, they can 

 only form their individual opinions, whereas, coming, 

 as I do, into constant contact with a highly educated 

 and artistic section of the public, and being in daily 

 touch with the greatest floral centres in the world, 

 I am able to take an independent view as between 

 the producer and the consumer, and, holding no 

 brief for either, I can fearlessly give to those who 

 are interested the benefit of my observation and 

 experience. I also claim that my lists are as nearly 

 perfect as such things can be, and that the majority 

 of the varieties given will be popular for many 

 years to come, even in this progressive age ; they 

 therefore form a very valuable part of my book. 



