INTRODUCTION 



THE Botanist reveals to us the wonderful structure 

 and mechanism of plants. By the aid of the microscope 

 he leads us far into the intricacies of their nature, 

 before which we stand in wonder and reverence. 



The Florist differs from the botanist in his relation 

 to plants. The plant as it is is the province of the 

 botanist. The plant as it can be developed is the 

 province of the florist. He takes advantage of its 

 inherent susceptibilities in certain directions and pro- 

 fits by them ; and there is no better illustration of 

 this than the subject of this volume. 



It was long considered that the botanist and the 

 florist had little or nothing in common, but this idea, 

 like so many other old-fashioned ones, has been given 

 up. The light which the botanist can throw on the 

 subject is invaluable to the raiser of new varieties of 

 flowers, and surely he is best equipped for growing 

 plants who best understands their structure. 



But there is an equipment for Flora's service 

 which even science* cannot give, which wealth cannot 

 buy, and which influence cannot command, and that 

 equipment is Love a love akin to devotion. A 

 well-known present-day writer * tells us that " in the 



1 Birrell in Obiter Dicta. 

 1 



