PREFACE. 
vi 
to the professors and lovers of horticulture, in all its branches and of every grade. 
Within its columns is compressed all the most important information relative to 
admired plants whifh its small size and avowed design would admit. "With this in 
his pocket, the possessor or cultivator of plants may perambulate his own garden, 
visit those of his friends or public establishments, and attend floricultural exhibi- 
tions, in the full assurance that if any particular object engage his attention, he may 
at once derive every fact of interest respecting both it and its congeners which is 
yet known in this country, and form an idea of the facility or difficulty, and con- 
sequent expense, attending its conservation. Such is, cursorily, the prime purport 
of this publication, and the aim of its author. To supersede the necessity for 
attaching the meaning of every specific appellation, and at the same time to afford 
the most ample means for acquiring a knowledge of all the phrases peculiar to the 
science, a voluminous glossary has been incorporated ; wherein, in addition to the 
more abstruse Latin terms, a number of ordinary words that are used botanically 
in a peculiar sense are fully explained. 
One inestimable quality of a popular synopsis* of any sort, is the discreet abridg- 
ment of uninteresting matter, and detailed record of merely the most attractive 
particulars. On the judicious selection and proper apportionment of desirable 
intelligence, the value of a summary entirely rests. In this respect we have much 
to claim for the volume to which the present address is prefixed. On account of 
the extreme scarcity, or non-existence in Britain, of many plants, considerable 
perplexity has been experienced in assigning to each species its due share of honour. 
For this reason, if a few plants are unjustly elevated, and others improperly debased, 
some little allowance may fairly he expected. Those indigenous species which are 
ranked with the ornamental sorts, are not to he regarded as worthless because of 
their commonness, hut may he cultivated with advantage in the more secluded and 
sylvan flower borders. 
To take a general glance at the arrangement and composition of this Dictionary, 
it will he better to show more lucidly the intent and application of each separate 
point, and afterwards advert to the abbreviations. Compactness and facile porta- 
bility being the primary and principal elements of the design, condensation of the 
letter-press was an inevitable result. On this score, however, we have just grounds 
for eulogising our printers, as nothing can he more beautiful or perfect than the 
mechanical execution of the work ; while the objection that might attach to the 
^ minuteness of the type, is completely removed by its exceeding clearness. 
