PREFACE 



The original edition of the well-known Gardeners Assistant was issued in 1859, 

 under the editorship of the late Mr. Robert Thompson, Superintendent of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society's Gardens at Chiswick, an eminent authority on all matters 

 appertaining to English horticulture. He was assisted by Mr. William Paul, Mr. Cock, 

 Mr. Salter, and Mr. Glendenning, who contributed chapters on the subjects of which 

 they were leading practical exponents. The work was at once welcomed as " the 

 soundest and best guide to practical gardening that has been published in our times ", 

 <( the best book on general practical horticulture in the English language", &c. 



In 1877, and again in 1884, the work was thoroughly revised and enlarged by 

 Mr. Thomas Moore, F.L.S., Curator of the Chelsea Botanic Gardens, and one of the 

 most thorough and critical of horticulturists. He was assisted by numerous specialists, 

 including Messrs. W. B. Hemsley, J. C. Niven, F. W. Burbidge, T. Baines, R. Dean, 

 and J. Douglas. The new issue was received with even greater favour than the 

 previous one. Mr. William Tillery, Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Portland, 

 Welbeck, one of the cleverest of English gardeners, wrote concerning it: "I consider 

 this new edition of Thompson's Gardeners Assistant the most complete work on 

 horticulture and floriculture that has ever been published. Every gardener should 

 have a copy of it, both for its practical and scientific interest, and as a guide to all 

 the duties of the profession." The Athenceum described it as "A veritable encyclopedia 

 to which all may turn who wish to have the best and soundest information on the 

 practice of gardening ". 



The work has again been entirely remodelled and rearranged for a New Edition, 

 so as to render it thoroughly comprehensive and in keeping with the gardening 

 spirit of the day. The alterations and additions are so numerous that this new edition 

 is practically a new book, in which every department of the garden is exhaustively 

 dealt with. 



The new edition was commenced under the joint general editorship of Mr. 

 Edward W. Badger and Mr. A. F. Barron. Owing to failing health these gentlemen 

 were, however, compelled to relinquish the task, not, however, before some progress 

 had been made and the services of specialists enlisted. The duties of general editor 

 were then entrusted to Mr. William Watson, Curator, Royal Gardens, Kew, an 

 experienced practical horticulturist and author, under whose supervision the work has 

 been carried to completion in such a manner as to assure that the Gardeners Assistant 



