Preface. 
5 HIS LITTLE BOOK, upon which unusual labor has been ex- 
pended, is offered to the cut-flower workers and florists of the 
country with the sincere hope that they will find it useful to 
them in their everyday work. It is an experiment ; yet the publish- 
ers feel assured that it will be a successful one, because such a work 
has long been needed. Substitutes, in the shape of collections of pho- 
tographs, are to be met with occasionally, only making more appar- 
ent the general need of some means for showing how floral designs 
look when actually made up, as well as of offering suggestions to the 
florist and his customers. 
In selecting designs for illustrations, great care has been taken to 
present only those of moderate cost and difficulty, such as will be 
constantly useful to the large majority of florists. Many superior ef- 
fects have been regretfully laid aside because of their too elaborate 
character or too great cost, rendering them seldom or never available 
to many florists. The publishers hope to present in a future volume a 
set of larger designs, should the present work be found generally accept- 
able. 
The complete analysis of these designs, and the elaborate trea- 
tise on the proper handling of floral work and decorations (begin- 
ning page 105), will be found useful and suggestive, as showing how 
these things are done by a thoroughly successful artist. And the 
many suggestions of designs and effects suitable for all occasions will 
doubtless save much thought and worn- if frequently referred to. 
To those friends who have assisted, in suggestions and in furnish- 
ing designs, as well as to those who have encouraged us by advance 
subscriptions, are due the hearty thanks of 
THE PUBLISHERS. 
