10 PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR. 



To remedy, as far as possible the evils which have been designated, as 

 well as to benefit all those, who admire and cultivate this lovely plant, 

 which is the object of my constant predilection j and to guide them in their 

 purchases and exchanges, and at the same time prevent them from being 

 deceived, by intentional or involuntary errors, I have undertaken a labor 

 which, it is not improbable, may be deemed above my powers j but I throw 

 myself, with confidence, upon the liberality of all the true friends of horti- 

 culture j who will perceive, that in this attempt, to establish a nomenclator, 

 feeble as it is, I have been constantly animated, by a desire to be useful. 



My time having been devoted, for twenty years, to the special cultiva- 

 tion of the Camellia, I have obtained, at great expense and labor, probably, 

 the most numerous collection on this continent, although I have carefully 

 excluded all inferior and doubtful varieties. 



Having daily studied, with minute vigilance, the progress of nature, in 

 this superb genus, I have made numerous interesting notes on its growth, 

 florescence, fructification and culture j and having arranged them with the 

 greatest possible care, they form the basis of this work, which is now confi- 

 dently submitted to the amateurs of Flora j and if I shall be so fortunate, as 

 to obtain their suffrages, my ambition will have been entirely gratified. 



