EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



Little by wa}- of Preface is required from an l^ditorial 

 standpoint, as the scope of this \\-ork is sufficienth- well 

 known. It may, ho\ve\'er, be as well to state that the 

 generic and specific limitation is practical 1\' that of 

 Nicholson's " Dictionary of Gardening," and this in its 

 turn reflects Kew. In a fe\\' isolated cases the Editor has 

 found himself unable to accept either of these recognised 

 authorities, and has gi\-en a reason therefor ; but he trusts 

 that in sa\'ing so he will not be accused of attempting to 

 play the part of Sir Oracle. There ha\e been one or two 

 departures in style from the old work, one being the 

 allocation of sponsors to the genera and species described. 

 These additional features, it is hoped, will be of service 

 to those who regard the book alike from a botanical and 

 a horticultural standpoint ; while the generic derivations 

 ha\-e also been included. 



Xecessaril)- in the production of such a volume many 

 points arise that are the better for a second opinion. The 

 Editor has frequently taken this, and would like here to 

 acknowledge his indebtedness to: Mr. W. D. Dl^LlR^", for 

 aid and achice in manj' difficulties ; ^Ir. R. I. Me.vsI'KES, 

 who at the commencement of the re\-ision of the work 

 placed at the Editor's disposal the use of his e.xtensive 

 librar}', and also gave permission for the illustration of 

 plants in his famous collection ; Mr. X. C. COOKSON, 

 for permission to photograph flowers and plants for repro- 

 duction, and for much kindly advice on other matter 

 contained in the work ; those who ha\-e lent their aid in 

 the compiling of the hybrid lists ; and the Horticultural 

 Press for abstracts and records which otherwise could 

 only be obtained at the cost of immense labour and 

 research in works not rcadil}- accessible to the multitude. 



