INTRODUCTION. 



' THE first and second editions of the "Flower Garden Compa- 

 nion" having received a liberal patronage, will be a sufficient 

 apology for the appearance of the present edition, in an enlarged 

 form, although not materially different in its arrangement. The 

 present object, as heretofore, of the " Flower Garden Companion," 

 is to aid those persons who are desirous of becoming acquainted 

 with the culture of flowers. In its compilation, the aim has been 

 to give, within the compass of a convenient manual for reference, 

 as much useful matter as possible relative to the subject. To 

 this end, each topic has been separately treated, and in as concise 

 a manner as could be done with propriety ; and, indeed, in some 

 cases, with a degree of brevity that on the first reading, to the 

 young practitioner may produce a feeling of disappointment, at 

 the apparent deficiency of information ; but on a careful reading 

 of the different articles, it will be found that everything useful 

 (in so small a treatise} has been spoken of, and that, in many 

 instances, one article acts as a key to another. 



In the outset, directions are given for laying out flower gardens. 

 In treating on this subject, I have confined myself to the general 

 outline, without entering into minute details, which depend very 

 much upon location and circumstances, as well as upon the taste 

 and means of the proprietor. 



To the culture of plants and shrubs, descriptive lists have been 

 appended, giving the color, height, and time of flowering, of such 

 varieties as have been found to be best adapted to the American 

 flower garden. It must be here recollected, that location and the 

 different treatment plants receive, will have great influence on the 

 color, height, and time of flowering, which I have set down on a 

 medium scale. In this place, it may be proper to remark, that the 

 design of the present manual is to assist the farmer, the mechanic, 

 and the amateur, in the general culture of flowers, and especially 

 in the culture of native American plants, which are not only the 



V A2 



