PREFACE. 



A Green-house, which, fifty years ago, was a luxury not 

 often to be met with, is now become an appendage to every 

 villa, and to many town residences ; — not indeed one of the 

 first necessity, but one which is felt to be appropriate and 

 highly desirable, and which mankind recognise as a m.ark of 

 elegant and refined enjoyment. 



The taste for these exotic gardens, indeed, has increased 

 much more rapidly than the skill requisite to manage them 

 to the best advantage, — for the progress of imitation is more 

 rapid than that of knowledge ; and hence it is much more 

 common to see a green-house, than to see one filled with a 

 proper selection of plants in high health and beauty. 



The management of plants in a green-house requires a 

 higher degree of knowledge than is called for in the ma- 

 nagement of the open garden ; and though this knowledge 

 is fast extending among the rising generation of gardeners, 

 it is not yet in such abundance as to be general. 



The object of the Green-house Companion is to supply 

 what is wanting in this respect, not only to gardeners, but to 

 their employers. In composing it we have had in view the 

 two-fold object of informing such gardeners as may not have 

 attended much to this branch of their profession ; and of 

 enlightening their employers so as they may not only be 

 aware when their servant neglects his duty, or performs it 

 properly or improperly ; but may, in the case of employing 

 common labourers in their gardens, be able to direct all the 



