INTRODUCTION. 



HE progress made in floriculture in America during recent 

 years is almost past comprehension. Great floral establish- 

 ments, aggregating hundreds, if not thousands, of acres of 

 glass have been reared with marvelous rapidity. Hundreds 

 of thousands of acres are annually devoted exclusively to the 

 cultivation of flowers. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of hor- 

 ticultural clubs and societies have been formed for the purpose of holding 

 exhibitions and further developing floriculture, with most gratifying results. 

 Everywhere greater attention is given, not only, to the flower garden, but 

 the floral decoration of the lawn. Nor does this interest stop with the 

 autumn frosts and wintry blasts. Flowers are so greatly appreciated 

 that conservatories are erected and window gardens are prepared, that 

 blooming plants may always be near to gladden the heavy heart and revive 

 the drooping spirit, when troubles come or cares oppress. They are rapidly 

 becoming such a necessary luxury that many cannot and will not be content 

 without them. They are, indeed, the joy alike of the rich and the poor, the 

 old and the young ; in success or in adversity they are ever our friends, 

 gratefully repaying our small attentions with their profusion of bloom. 



At the beginning of each year we dream of delightful grounds and beau- 

 tiful flowers flowers for all purposes flowers so beautiful that our homes 

 promise to be, indeed, a paradise of surpassing loveliness. Our dreams are 

 more than realized during May and June, when we find roses, flowering 

 shrubs, and bulbs in endless variety, to say nothing of other flowers, blooming 

 everywhere in the greatest profusion. But our dreams do not last. June 

 and our flowers, at least most of them, bid us adieu. It is now that we need 

 a first-class flower that will fill our empty vases, beautify our la\vns ; in fact, 

 a flower that will completely fill the space between roses and chrysanthemums, 

 w r hen other good flowers are not plentiful. Flower after flower has been tried 

 until at last it became evident that the " Dahlia" was the only flower having 



