Introduction 5 



We must remember that nine-tenths of 

 the plants we grow are exotic natives of 

 distant parts and climes coming from 

 various atmospheric conditions, and from 

 all kinds of soil. We bring them into our 

 garden and grow them all under one cli- 

 matic influence and in the one kind of soil 

 we happen to possess. Certainly we cannot 

 expect uniform success with all of them. 

 You might as well bring into one room 

 unlettered natives of distant climes and 

 expect them all to enter into a general 

 conversation. Even in gardens quite near 

 each other, their permanence varies. I 

 cannot grow, successfully, any of the bol- 

 tonias, while within a quarter of a mile of 

 me, in a friend's garden, they grow like 

 weeds. Our soil is the same, and one would 

 suppose that the climatic conditions were, 

 still the fact remains. I merely mention 

 this so that any novice finding that he 

 cannot grow some plants as well as others 

 near him, may not feel lonesome in his 

 grief. It is, however, a good plan, when 



