vi PREFACE 



proofs of every article in the work liave been read by experts in that 

 subject. 



Every effort has been made to present a truthful picture of American 

 horticulture, by describing those plants which are or lately have been in 

 the trade, and by giving cultural directions founded upon American 

 experience. Therefore the Old Woi-ld cyclopedias, which represent other 

 horticultural floras and other methods of cultivation, have not been fol- 

 hjwcd. Species which are commonly cultivated in the Old World, or 

 whi(!h are mentioned prominently in horticultural literature, but which are 

 not known to be in North American connnerce, are briefly recoi'ded in 

 smaller type in supplementary lists. Tlx' ()l)ject has been to make the 

 work essentially American and wholly alive. 



Particular attention has been given to the tropical and sub-ti'opical 

 plants which are now being introduced in southern Florida and southern 

 California. These plants already represent the larger part of the cultivated 

 tropical flora ; and a knowledge of them will be of increasing interest 

 and importance with tlie enlargement of our national si)here. The work 

 is intended to cover the entire field fi-om Key West and the Rio Grande 

 to Quebec and Alaska. 



North America is a land of outdoor horticulture, and the hardy fruits, 

 trees, shrubs and herbs are given the prominence which they deserve. In 

 most works of this character, the glasshouse and fanciei-s' plants receive 

 most emphatic attention. 



Since it is hoped that the work will be of permanent value, descriptions 

 of varieties are not included ; for such descriptions would increase the bulk 

 of the work enormously, and the information would be out of date with the 

 lapse of a few months or years. If the work finds sufficient patronage, it 

 is hoped that a small supplemental volume may be issued annually, to 

 I'ecord the new species and varieties and the general progress of horticul- 

 tural business and science. 



The illustrations have been made under the personal supervision of 

 the Editor so far as possible, and, with few exceptions, they are owned 

 and controlled by the publishers. No trade cuts have been pui'chased. In 

 various confused gi'oups, copies have been made of old prints for the pur- 

 pose of showing the original or native form of a plant, and thereby to 

 illustrate the course of its evolution ; but credit is given to the source 

 of the illustration. 



The point of view is the garden, not the herbarium. The herbarium 



