iv 
means of assisting one of the numerous Amateurs who have here- 
tofore been deterred from pursuing the practical study of Floricul- 
ture to surmount the obstacles which have obstructed his progress, 
or inducing others to make the acquaintance of Frora, whose 
flowery paths abound with innocent pleasures, his object will be 
fully attained. 
With some few exceptions, the author has embodied his own 
practical experience in the cultivation of the plants enumerated. 
He does not claim all as original, freely acknowledging his in- 
debtedness to, ‘‘Loupon’s Encycrorap1a or Pianrs” and other 
standard works, for the generic or specific names of many plants. 
The practical and valuable information contained in the Vegeta- 
ble-Garden Manual has been carefully compiled from various re- 
liable sources. He would here tender his acknowledgments to all 
to whom he is indebted for valuable information. 
Under the patronage of the Amareur the author would respect- 
fully place this his first effort, knowing that their love of the sub- 
ject on which it treats will enable them to overlook all defficiencies 
on his part in his endeavors to induce others to partake of the 
enjoyments which Floriculture afford to her votaries. 
