vi Preface. 
almost every young gardener, at least, has some knowledge of 
it. Another reason for adopting it in preference to alpha- 
betical order or any arbitrary grouping is, that a knowledge of 
it is desirable, and will serve to increase the pleasure to be 
derived from the cultivation of plants. The actual arrange- 
ment of the orders and genera is a modification of De Can- 
dolle’s system, as near as possible to that in use at Kew, as 
published in Hooker and Bentham’s ‘Genera Plantarum.’ 
Any one acquainted with the affinities of plants will soon be 
able to turn to the various orders without consulting the 
index, which for convenience has been made as complete as 
possible, including the Latin names of all the species described 
or mentioned, together with their more important synonyms, 
as well as the popular English and American names. 
To facilitate the selection of species, lists and references to the 
principal members of the different classes are given under the 
head ‘Classification of Plants accordine to their Duration, 
Habit, etc., pp. 599-619. 
It was originally intended to translate certain portions of the 
first, second, and third volumes of Decaisne and Naudin’s 
‘Manuel de l'Amateur des Jardins,” and make up a volume 
from them, But this plan was abandoned at the outset, 
as the arrangement, suituble perhaps for a work of several 
volumes, could not be carried out in bringing the materials 
within the limits of one. And then, except in the case of a few 
venera and specics so well known as to searcely need descrip- 
tion, distinguixhing generic and specific characters are not 
given in the French work. This being considered of the first, 
importance, it was decided, whilst using the original woodcuts, 
and all the information available, to proceed on a totally dif- 
ferent basis. A great many of the species mentioned therein 
are not noticed here, on account of their not being hardy in 
Britain. On the other hand, numerous additional species are 
described or named; and although nothing like a complete 
enumeration of all the hardy plants found in British gardens, 
very few desirable or common species have been overlooked. 
Probably some: persons may be disappointed at not finding 
such and such a species mentioned, whilst other less meri- 
torious species are admitted. Imperfections of this nature 
