PREFACE. 



IN tlie preface which accompanied the original issue of this work, its object was stated 

 to be, "To supply, in monthly parts, as full an account of all the new and re- 

 markable plants introduced into cultivation as is necessary to the horticulturist ; the history 

 of such plants being sought in botanical works published on the Continent, to which 

 English cultivators have little access, as well as in those of our own country, and in 

 the gardens or herbaria from which they are derived." 



" It was expected that by this means the English reader would be able by degrees, 

 by mere reference to the indexes of matter accompanying each part, to ascertain the 

 real horticultural value of the numberless so-called novelties with which the lists of 

 dealers are crowded. The abundance of double names, which botanists call synonyms, 

 but which, in common parlance, are termed aliases, would also, it was hoped, be gradually 

 referred to their true denomination, and the purchaser thus be spared the mortification of 

 finding that after procuring half a dozen different names, he is still in possession of but 

 one species, and that, perhaps, one with which he was previously familiar.'-' 



Since the first publication there has been a great change in the introduction of new 

 plants. Now, as compared with times past, they come in immense numbers direct to this 

 country. Private enterprise has opened up new channels through which we obtain the 

 productions of every clime that possesses anything of either a useful or ornamental 

 character that can be grown here, either in the open air or with the aid of greenhouse 

 or hothouse. It is needless to say that some of these are not worthy of the culti- 

 vator's care, and cannot claim notice in a work of this description, the object of which 

 is to act as a guide in what are the best and most deserving of cultivation amongst the 

 new introductions. With this object, such of the plants that were represented in 

 colours in the first edition, and have been proved inferior and unworthy of general 

 cultivation, have been expunged, and their places filled in the new edition with the best 

 of recent introductions, selecting a fair proportion of both hardy and tender kinds. In 

 like manner, all that were described in the gleanings in the old edition, and found inferior, 

 have been discarded, and their places supplied by others of undoubted merit. 



