Preface. v 



and that it takes little or no note of such varieties as 

 are constantly making their appearance throughout the 

 world. For this there is good reason from a scientific 

 standpoint, but when it comes to the practical use of 

 plants in general cultivation it is found that many of the 

 species thus treated have given forth varieties, through 

 processes well understood, that are far more valuable for 

 the work in hand than the originals, and such as are com- 

 ing, in a large measure, to displace them. A very large 

 proportion of the plants in the best gardens of Europe 

 and America belong to the latter class, many of which are 

 not even named by the scientists — much less described. 

 To these especial attention is given, as for horticultural 

 purposes they are of great value. It is true that much 

 has been written in a fragmentary way concerning these 

 varietal forms, but this is believed to be the first attempt 

 to gather and publish in a single volume an account of the 

 wonderful evolutions in connection with the several types 

 so far as they are of practical use in our gardens and 

 parks. There are also many excellent books in the hands 

 of the people, or at their command, treating of the plants 

 of certain sections of the world, each complete in itself, 

 but regardless of their value in horticulture or of the uses 

 to which they may be put. All this is in the direct line 

 of scientific inquiry, and such books are of the highest 

 possible value, but fail to meet the call for information 

 which comes from the man with grounds to plant, and 

 who is neither a botanist nor versed in horticulture. 



Though the attempt is here made to describe in brief 

 the desirable forms indigenous to other countries as well 



