INTRODUCTION vii 



INTRODUCTION 



It has become the practice of gardeners to speak of the 

 plants used for decorative purposes as the plant materials of 

 their art. These materials fall rather naturally into three 

 Glassies: the woody plants used in landscape architecture and 

 street planting, the herbs used for bedding and border plant- 

 ing, pools, etc., and the grasses of lawns. 



The present little volume is an attempt to make it possible 

 for any careful observer to learn the generic and usually the 

 specific name of any hardy tree, shrub or woody climber that 

 he is likely to find cultivated in the eastern United States 

 apart from the extreme south or in northern Europe, any where 

 except on the more pretentious estates, or in nurseries or 

 botanical establishments. It accounts for 247 genera and 782 

 species, with some 375 minor forms, or over 1150 distinct 

 kinds. These pertain to 83 natural families. 



For a few hopelessly complicated genera, such as the haws, 

 cotoneasters, mockoranges and roses, only a few of the most , 

 easily recognized species have been admitted. Except for 

 these, an effort has been made to include all but the rarer or 

 newer species. By way of compensation for omissions, the 

 common trees and shrubs of the orchard may be traced to their 

 species, and also the commoner native shrubs and cover plants. 



It is assumed that the terms usually applied to the parts 

 of plants are understood or will be looked up in the glossary 

 by anyone who wishes to use the keys, and that he will quick- 

 ly learn to make a small and not necessarily expensive pocket 

 lens of about twelve-diameter magnification his inseparable 

 companion and helper: no further equipment is necessary 

 except a good store of care, patient interest, and common sense. 



To keep the book inexpensive, and of a size to fit the 

 pocket, indentifications are provided for in concise keys. As a 

 rule these should lead to reasonably certain conclusions: but 



