8 INTRODUCTION. 



the Pacific coast are prolific of other treasures than 

 golden ore. 



The want of a volume on this subject has long been 

 felt by culturists. The elaborate work of Mrs. Lou- 

 don was useful in its day, though Avanting in practical 

 directions ; but it has long been out of print, and its 

 cost would render it inaccessible to the masses. 



The learned treatises of Herbert can never be 

 excelled in elaboration of detail ; but they are too 

 scientific for the popular mind, and only cover a small 

 portion of the immense field upon which instruction 

 is required. 



It is to meet this want that the present volume has 

 been undertaken. Its aim is to give a book of popular 

 culture, botanically correct as far as the science of 

 botany is within its scope, but generally adapted to 

 popular use, and intelligible to the large class who are 

 ardent culturists, but have little time for the study of 

 botany ; to make the culture of flowers a necessity, 

 feeling that the inquiring mind Avill turn from the 

 growing plant to study how it grows. 



This volume is the third of a series of works on 

 popular gardening; of which, two, "Flowers for the 

 Parlor and Garden," and " Garden Flowers," are al- 

 ready before the public. A volume of Orchid Culture" 



