INTRODUCTIOK 



Familiarity with a flower does not always in- 

 clude a knowledge of its name and family. This 

 little volume is intended properly to introduce many 

 familiar characters. We are better pleased to know 

 the golden-rod, virgin's bower, and blood-root by their 

 titled names — Arguta SoUdago, Clematis of Vir- 

 ginia, and Sa/nguinaria of Canada. But the book 

 goes a step further and supplements the introduction 

 with a little friendly gossip based on personal experi- 

 ence. Alas ! personal experiences are all more or less 

 different, so I must be pardoned for occasionally ap- 

 pearing to disagree with those whose wide experience, 

 profound research, and scientific training entitle them 

 to acceptation as unquestionable and final authorities. 

 But opportunity is often the means whereby one 

 may arrive at truths not always in the possession of 

 the most learned ; and the fact that I have seen the 

 Atamasco lily in bloom in May and even earlier in- 

 clines me to the belief that the same opportunity was 



