AUTHOR'S Preface 



"IWIILADY'S HOUSE PLANTS" received its in- 

 IVl spiration in a lecture on house plants given 

 by the author a year or more ago. 



This was before a large audience in Horticultural 

 Hall, Boston, under the auspices of the Massachusetts 

 Horticultural Society, and the intense interest which 

 was there shown, coupled with the liberal notices 

 given by the press, gave evidence that the subject was 

 alive and important. 



Alert to these signs, the publishers of the present 

 volume urged upon the author the duty of undertaking 

 a still more ambitious role, to the end (as they pleased 

 to put it) that the women of the entire country be 

 given the same helpful information as had been given 

 the women of Boston. 



The writer has endeavored in the chapters which 

 follow to give his story in a simple form which all may 

 understand. If he has been remiss in the matter of 

 adorning the tale, he has certainly endeavored to 

 point the pertinent moral. In fact, his sole desire has 

 been to set down briefly and clearly all the more im- 

 portant facts for the benefit of those who are seeking 

 knowledge on this particular subject, unencumbered 

 by excessive verbiage or poetic effusion. 



That a right relationship between the amateur 

 gardener and her plants, their successful cultivation 

 and the delightful pleasure of their companionship 

 may be brought about by the study of this volume 

 is the sincere and sole desire of the author. 



F. E. PALMER. 

 Brookline, Mass., April, 1917. 



