PREFACE. 



An introduction to a book may be so far useful as 

 it may serve to explain the writer's design, and en- 

 able the reader to pass a fair judgment upon his 

 performance ; for unless his particular view be 

 well understood and considered, it is possible that 

 he may be rashly censured for disappointing those 

 hopes which he could not have fulfilled without de- 

 parting from his plan. One or two observations, 

 however, will, in the present instance, be sufficient 

 to apprize the reader what he may expect from 

 this publication. It is intended, then, merely as a 

 Guide to the Greenhouse and Conservatory ; con- 

 taining, in as concise a manner as possible, those 

 necessary directions for keeping up a succession of 

 bloom during every month of the year ; so that the 

 Conservatory may never be wanting in a display of 

 that beauty and loveliness which ever adorns the 

 vernal season, and renders its name, Spring, so pe- 

 culiarly and gracefully appropriate. 



