Preface. ix 



find very little difference, all the more important fine-leaved plants 

 looking in splendid health, one bed of Cannas at Battersea being 

 nearly twelve feet high, the noble Wigandia in perfect vigour, and 

 the Cannas, Ferdinandas, Polymnias, &c., even in the exposed Hyde 

 Park and on the cold clay of the Regent's Park, quite healthy and 

 vigorous. I even found some of them in presentable condition so 

 far north as Archerfield, on the banks of the Firth of Forth. Con- 

 sidering how exceptionally bad was the past season, this proves that 

 the growth of tender plants with large and effective foliage in the 

 summer garden is by no means so impossible as is frequently sup- 

 posed. Indeed the culture of the many hardy and half-hardy plants 

 that may be used so advantageously to produce fine effects in the 

 flower-garden, from elegant dwarf Conifers to graceful Bamboos, is 

 much more easy in many parts of England than around Paris, where 

 many subjects perish in winter that we find no difficulty in grow- 

 ing. The fact is, an infinitely more beautiful garden, even from the 

 point of fine foliage, could be made in many mild spots near our 

 coasts than is possible around Paris with any expense. 



It now remains for me to thank my French friends for kind 

 assistance rendered when in France and since leaving it, and among 

 them M. H. Vilmorin, M. Jules Posth, M. E. Andre, MM. New- 

 mann and Verlot, of the Jardin des Plantes, M. Ermens, of La 

 Muette, M. Rose Charmeaux, of Tbomery, M. Jamain, of Bourg 

 la Reine, M. Riviere, of the Luxembourg, M. Bergman, of 

 Ferrieres, Professor Du Breuil, M. Souchet, of Fontainebleau, and 

 many others. Some of the cuts are from the " Atlas des Fleurs 

 de Pleine Terre," of Vilmorin Andrieux and Co., some from 

 " Culture des Arbres et Arbrisseux & Fruits de Table," of Professor 

 Du Breuil, and a few are from the " Gardener's Chronicle." The 

 rest are from designs furnished by the author. 



As before indicated, this book does not pretend to deal fully with 



