PREFACE. 
In preparing the present edition of my Seed Catalogue, my desire 
has been to give a selection of the choicest flowers, avoiding the long 
list of names usually given in catalogues, a great part of which are of 
no value in our climate ; whilst a still larger portion are nothing better 
than weeds. A writer in that excellent paper, " The Garden," (Lon- 
don,) makes some timely remarks on these long catalogues of names in 
Europe. Perhaps some may consider them applicable to catalogues 
found occasionally in our own country. The writer says : " I see several 
species of orchid seed offered by the ounce in Germany as though they 
were commonly grown, but they must be put in principally to swell the 
catalogues, like many other things. What a marvellous publication is 
the seed list of a great German firm ! I am sure there are more than 
] 0,000 species and varieties in one I received lately. Where do they 
all come from, and what becomes of them all ? Sixty distinct classes 
asters, and other florist flowers in like proportion; 1,500 species of 
hardy perennials, many of which I venture to say are not found in five 
gardens in Europe, if in any. How many of these are worth growing, 
even in the largest gardens, and how many of them represent nothing 
but a name ? These questions no one can answer, though they may 
lead to some interesting reflections." 
Having been engaged over thirty years in growing and harvesting 
seeds — flower and vegetable — I flatter myself I can safely select the 
finest varieties, and such as cannot fail to please amateur cultivators, 
as it is very difficult for an inexperienced person to select from the long 
lists usually given. Being extensively engaged in importing and grow- 
ing the new and rare plants and florist flowers, it will be readily seen 
that my facilities for saving seed of the choicest description are unsur- 
passed ; the seeds are of a quality which growers alone can offer. 
Whilst such articles as it is necessary to import are received direct 
from the first growers in England, France and Germany. 
JOHN SAUL, 
621 Seventh St., opposite U. S. Patent Office, 
Washington, V. C. 
