6 FOREWORDS. 



the year when there is a paucity of other flowering plants. 

 As Thomson has so happily expressed in verse : 



" Fair-handed Spring unbosoms ev'ry grace, 

 Throws out the Snowdrop, and the Crocus first; 

 The Daisy, Primrose, Violet darkly blue, 

 And Polyanthus of unnumbered dyes; 

 The yellow "Wallflower, stained with iron brown ; 

 And lavish Stock that scents the garden round ; 

 From the soft wings of vernal breezes shed, 

 Anemones; Auriculas enriched 

 With shining meal o'er all their velvet leaves ; 

 And full Ranunculus, of glowing red. 

 Then comes the Tulip race, where, Beauty plays 

 Her idle freaks; from family diffused 

 To family, as flies the father dust, 

 The varied colours run; and while they break 

 On the charmed, eye, th' exulting florist marks, 

 With secret pride, the wonders of his hand. 

 No gradual bloom is wanting; from the bud, 

 First-born of Spring, to Summer's musky wiles : 

 Nor Hyacinths, of purest virgin white, 

 Low-bent, and blushing inward: nor Jonquils, 

 Of potent fragrance ; nor Narcissus fair, 

 As o'er the fabled fountain hanging still ; 

 Nor broad Carnations, nor gay spotted Pinks; 

 Nor showered from ev'ry bush, the Damask rose. 

 Infinite numbers, delicacies, smells, 

 With hues on hues expression cannot paint, 

 The breath of Nature, and her endless bloom." 



And not only in spring, but in dreary autumn and 

 wintry days, to say nothing of summer, we have in the 

 great family of bulbs and tubers precious blossom to add 

 colour and gaiety to our gardens, window-sills, etc. In 

 winter, for example, the hardy cyclamens, winter aco- 

 nites, snowdrops, and some of the irises grace the rockery 

 or the lawn with chaste and simple beauty. In spring the 

 gay crocus, squill, narcissi, star-flower, Glory of the Snow, 

 many irises, tulips, hyacinth, bluebell, anemone, dog's- 

 tooth violet and grape hyacinth are a few of the many 

 beautiful bulbs and flowers that will flood the mead, 

 woodland, and garden with a plethora of precious richly- 

 coloured blossom. And what shall we say of summer 

 days, when lilies galore, Spanish and English irises, early 



