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PKEFACE AND DEDICATION. 



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f 'Whe:s* I began to write this little book, and to reckon 

 what its readers would most require in it, I looked back 

 to the time, some years ago now, when we first owned a 

 garden, rather large in size for Middlesex, and, like 

 hundreds similarly placed, sorely stood in need of the 

 exact, though concise information it contains ; and I 

 have tried to arrange it so that it will meet the wants 

 of this numerous class. If they find it lessen the 

 difficulties that stood in our way in cultivating our 

 flowers when we first had a garden, I shall be satisfied. 



As the little work is intended for the many rather 

 than for the scientific few, I have as much as possible 

 avoided botanical names and technicalities, only in- 

 troducing them when general identification seemed to 

 render it necessary. 



To all who own a flower garden and delight in flowers 

 I dedicate Flowees a^d the Plowek Gaeden, and 

 hope they will find it useful. 



E. W. 



