Yl INTRODUCTION. 



most beautiful, but also the most appropriate to this climate, and 

 are of easy cultivation; combining such methods of practice from 

 foreign horticulture as are adapted to this climate. 



The management and culture of green-house plants, and plants 

 in rooms, being so intimately connected with the flower garden, I 

 have devoted a considerable space to that subject, Directions are 

 given for the treatment of the different families of green-house 

 plants, as the Camellia, Erica, Geranium, &c., with descriptive 

 lists of the most approved varieties subjoined. 



The shrubbery, and the planting of ornamental plantations, 

 have also been treated on, although not so extensively as the 

 subject might demand in a more enlarged work on ornamental 

 plantations, which are now beginning to be properly appreciated 

 in most parts of the Union. To those who are improving estates 

 in the west, I recommend a work lately published by me, entitled 

 "A Manual on the Cultivation of Live Fences and Ornamental 

 Plantations," which will be found to be a good accompaniment 

 to the " Companion." 



With these remarks, I must take leave of the subject, referring 

 the reader to the Table of Contents for the different matters treated 

 on, at the same time tendering my sincere thanks to several 

 practical gardeners and amateurs for their kind assistance in 

 preparing the list of plants, and for several useful hints for this 

 treatise, hoping it may have a tendency to throw some light on 

 the culture of the flower garden; and if it have any influence on 

 the impulse already manifest in the culture of flowers, my earnest 

 desire will be fully answered. 



E. S. 



