PREFACE. 
"We have the pleasure of presenting our friends with our Serenffr 
Annual Catalogue^ and trust that it may compare favorably with those^ 
'which have preceded it. 
We take this occasion to thank our correspondents, both at home and* 
in nearly every other civilized country, for their generous support and fho 
kind words of encouragement and wishes for our success in introducing 
into cultivation the many beautiful hardy plants, bulbs, etc., of which wo 
were the first to make a specialty. Many new and rare plants have first 
been brought to the notice of cultivators in this country through our 
catalogue. Notable among these are the Scarlet Clematis, Glory of the 
Snow, Scarlet Bdbiscus, the fine set of named Japanese Irises, and others. 
As promised in our Annual Price List, we now ofi"er a partially descrip- 
tive catalogue which, we trust, may be found acceptable by all lovers of 
hardy plants. 
An inspection of the list will show that, together with the well estab- 
lished favorites, we offer tho choicest hardy plauts of recent introduction. 
"We call special attention to our list of bulbs, which shows that in Nar- 
cisBuses, Lilies and rare bulbs we have one of tho best collections to bo 
found in this country, or in Europe. A largo share of our finest bulbs 
are in flower in April and May, at which time a visit to our nursery can- 
not fail to gratify every lover of beautiful flowers. A friend, who came 
some miles to make ns a visit last spring, declared that tho sight of ono 
of onr rarer species of Narcissus amply compensated him for his journoy. 
As in former catalogues, we give hero tho popular or EngliHh uamos bo 
far ns the plants are known to have received any. The hst of those is 
much larger than heretofore. 
PJilGES. For the convenience of those who wish to purchase plauta, 
and especially bulbs iu considerable quantities, wo have given tho prico 
by tho hundred for those sorts of which we carry a largo stock, and feel 
confident that these rates will be found at least quite as low as stock of 
the same quality can be purchased elsewhere. When orders are given at 
the rates by the hundred, wo do not in this case aUow of a fioloction of 
plants to the amount of Sl-00 for each $5.00 worth ordered, as that offer 
applies only to purchases at single and dozen rates. In making np an 
order, 25 will bo sent at the hundred rate. We do not sout by mail at 
the hundred rate. 
In filling our orders and in packing tho plants wo nso tho greatest care, 
whether in sending a small parcel by mail, or a large ono by oxpresa. 
Though wo Fend to llio most distant localities, it is very rare that wo hoar 
of any loss en route. "Wo endeavor to fill all orders in a liberal manner 
and odd extra plants to, in port at loa^t, offset express charges. 
Our season for shipping plants begins about the last of March and con- 
tinues until the middle of November, or as lon^ as tJie ground is iu aoit- 
able condition for planting. Orders for Australia, the West Indies, South 
