The thirst for knowledge is as old as the creation ; and mankind ever 

 has sought, and ever will seek, for novelty as for hid treasure. Trust- 

 ing to this longing, which is a great incentive to action in the horticultural 

 world, we venture, at this inclement season of the year, to lay before the 

 horticulturists of the country a new Magazine of Horticulture. " And in 

 what," we hear you say, " do you propose to differ from the other horticul- 

 tural magazines which zealous laborers in the fruitful field monthly present 

 to us ? " Pardon us : we wish to differ with none, but to aid all ; to go hand 

 in hand with our fellow-laborers ; and to lend our aid, be it great or little, 

 to the improvement of horticultural science, and the dissemination of infor- 

 mation on floriculture and pomology. But let us plainly state our position : 

 a number of gentlemen practically interested in horticulture, feeling that 

 there is room for a horticultural monthly of high character and liberal tone, 

 have agreed to issue such a magazine, and herewith present you the first 

 number. To the thousands who are interested in horticulture, to whom 

 each budding tree, each unfolding flower, each ripening seed, is a fresh and 

 ever-new source of delight, we offer our aid, and the varied experience of 

 our corps of contributors, many of whom are not unknown to horticultural 

 literature. 



To those whose good fortune leads them to enjoy a country life, where 

 Nature, ever unfolding her varied pages of instructive beauty, insensibly 

 makes the soul wiser and better, we proffer our aid to show new beauties, 

 and to teach how to enjoy them. 



VOL. I. 



