PEE PAGE vii 



the purposes of massing in herbaceous borders to produce effect by 

 means of contrast in floral colouring. As the height is given to almost 

 every plant described it is scarcely necessary to make out a list of plants 

 with various heights. 



Under the ' Trees and Shrubs ' at p. 107 the list has been so 

 arranged as to enable the reader to see immediately which kinds are 

 in blossom at any particular month of the year, from January to 

 December. 



Part III. is devoted to the Description, Culture, and Propagation 

 of the best Hardy Fruits for our climate, and Part IV. is in the same 

 way devoted to Vegetables. The Culture plays an important part 

 in these two groups, and is fully described in simple language. The 

 methods recommended are not those of any particular gardener, but 

 such as are generally practised in the best gardens in the kingdom. 

 Sometimes more than one way of growing a plant is mentioned, but 

 the reader should always remember that while the principles of cultiva- 

 tion are usually the same, there may be many differences in detail. He 

 should, therefore, use a wise discretion, by taking into consideration 

 the nature of the soil, situation, aspect, altitude &c. of his own particular 

 garden, and then by means of the information given, mixed with a little 

 common sense (one of the best plant foods known) , there will be little 

 difficulty as a rule in growing his plants, flowers, fruits, or vegetables. 

 As a reminder of the various operations to be performed during the 

 year, a short calendar of work has been added to the Flower, Fruit, 

 and Vegetable sections of the book. 



THE GLOSSARY 



Although it is always a difficult task for a technical writer to de- 

 scribe the objects and operations connected with his own profession in 

 ordinary language, I have endeavoured to avoid as far as possible the 

 use of all technical gardening and botanical expressions throughout 

 the work, except where such were inevitable. Simple language has 

 been used throughout, but technical words are to be found here 

 and there in the description^ of the various natural orders and genera. 

 These terms, however, are comparatively few, and occur many times 

 over under similar circumstances, so that the reader will soon regard 

 them as ordinary language. With a view, however, of making their 

 meanings quite clear, all technical expressions have been grouped to- 

 gether in a ' Glossary,' and numerous thumbnail sketches have also 

 been given to further elucidate the meanings of many. 



