VI PREFACE. 



not only conducive to intellectual pleasure, but calculated to 

 improve the mind, and to relieve it of that intense thought 

 which necessarily attends practical pursuits, I have ventured 

 to intrude on the patience of those whose sole object maybe 

 practical knowledge. I can, however, inform such, that no 

 efforts have been spared to render the work generally in- 

 structive as well as amusing, and would invite the attention 

 of my readers to a perusal of its contents before they com- 

 mence the process of cultivation ; and if they select a proper 

 soil, and provide suitable seed and implements, I doubt not 

 that they will experience the highest satisfaction in their 

 instructive, pleasant, and healthful employment. 



In conclusion, I would observe, that in order to keep pace 

 with the increasing taste for flowers, and to render this work 

 a desideratum to those amateur florists who cultivate plants 

 merely for amusement, I have in this edition introduced 

 several important improvements ; I am, however, aware 

 that it may be viewed by some as still an imperfect work ; 

 and havin"- no wish either to overrate its merits or conceal 

 its defects, I am free to acknowledge, that in aiming to divest 

 the subject of those technicalities which too often discourage 

 new beginners in this pursuit, the style may perhaps in 

 some instances have degenerated into a censurable quaint- 

 ness. The apology I offer is, that, having spent a greater 

 portion of my time in the wide field of nature, than in the 

 study of the dead, or even living languages, I have been 

 more familiar with that which appertains to practical gar- 

 dening, than with the contents of literary tomes ; and that, 

 having no wish, even were I competent, to amuse classical 

 leaders with a tedious vocabulary of Greek, Latin, and Bo- 

 tanical terms, I have confined my attention to the teaching 

 of plain people the rudiments of Floriculture, in a concise 

 and explicit manner ; and I flatter myself that my labour 

 has not been altogether in vain. 



T. BRIDGEMAN. 



JYeiv-York, January, 1844. 



