TO OUR READERS. 



It may be well to devote a few brief sentences to recall to your memory one or two of the events of 

 the past six months ; for wisdom is the application of knowledge extracted from the past and applied to 

 the future. 



In gardening great events rarely occur, but there are a continued series of small events in its practice 

 which combine, and become of marked importance. Such a combination has resulted in the prevalence 

 of conservatories. A majority of the houses now springing up for the middle thousands in our metro- 

 politan districts have each a conservatory. In these conservatories we recognise an increased source of 

 pleasure, health, home enjoyment, and love of the beautiful. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had no 

 such result in view when he proposed the repeal of the duty on glass, and we have the high satisfaction 

 of knowing that our pages helped to the knowledge which created a demand for their erection. 



When we announced that cocoa-nut fibre dust is excellent for potted Ferns and some other plants, we 

 little thought that we were introducing such an additional source of fertility to the gardener ; that we 

 should be the cause of sweeping away the mountains of this refuse which the manufacturers gave gladly 

 to any who would fetch it away, but which they now can afford to advertise, sell at a good price, and cannot 

 manufacture fast enough. It has become an ingredient in the composts of many large gardening establish- 

 ments; and from being timidly used in flower-pots, is now employed in bushels to banks of Rhododendrons, 

 Strawberry-beds, and other extensive plantations. 



Within the six months embraced by this volume the memorial to the Prince President of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society, has been erected, and the representatives of the people have refused to purchase its 

 neighbouring International Exhibition building. Had that wise Prince survived he would have applauded 

 that rejection, for he never sanctioned attempts to adapt incompatibles ; and we now hope to see a 

 building rise from the foundations of the one condemned that will be a worthy and suitable national museum, 

 and that will increase the attractions of the national Horticultural Society's Garden. 



It is in no spirit of self-laudation, or from any prompting of self-interest, that we assume to have had an 

 influence in promoting those occurrences, but it is paying a due tribute to those able men who contribute 

 to our pages, and whose skill and high character gain for them an entrance into most places where 

 gardening is cherished. Illness has withdrawn from us one of the most able of those men ; but more than 

 one of equal skill have been added to our staff, and we have no fear that our pages will not continue to be 

 welcome, as we are told by a Lancashire clergyman they have been hitherto " to my parsonage, our squire's 

 drawing-room, his gardener's parlour, and our village reading-room." 



