the JOERNAL of IIORTICCLTUnE AND COTTAGE GARDEKER, Jn y 2, 1891. ] 
TO OUR READERS. 
■O' 
Another volume of the Journal op Horticulture is completed, making the eighty-fourth of the series 
that find a place in the libraries of those who have fortunately preserved them. 
We can say “fortunately” without any egotism, because the information those volumes contain, on 
all subjects pertaining to Gardening, has been contributed by able and busy workers, and we are always 
glad to find a fitting opportunity for expressing our appreciation of their services. 
Without the ever active pens of skilled exiTonents of the art of Gardening, it would not be 
possible to produce Aveek after week, over a long series of years, fresh, readable, interesting, and useful 
matter, suited for the multitude of tastes that are comprised in our world-wide constituency; yet this 
is what is done, and far over two thousand issues have been completed, each differing from the other, yet 
with the family character impressed on all. 
It is not the conductors alone of the Journal of Horticulture who are proud of the ability of 
those contributors who have made it what it has long been—a welcome guest in the homes of the affluent 
who delight in gardening, and of those experienced men and young probationers Avho engage in the pursuit 
they love; but it is the great body of readers, who are not regular writers, who value so highly Avhat is 
provided for them, and AAdiich we have the best means of knoAving is highly approved. 
Expressions of satisfaction are ever pouring in. An amateur who says he “ reads everything,” and 
who has spent what many Avould consider a large fortune in gardening, also says he “ cannot do 
without the Journal.” Those are the kind of amateurs Ave like, and Ave are glad to knoAv there are 
many such scattered all over the kingdom and beyond its shores. 
A gardener, one of the best and most famed, says, “ The Journal is the paper for me, and all the young 
men Avho have ever lived here, and are Avorth anything, take it Aveekly.” The qualification is that of a 
shrewd and careful man, and may be taken as typical. Young gardeners who are “ worth anything ” read the 
Journal, and it has undoubtedly been of great service to many. 
Another shining light in the gardening world, but Avho has not much time for writing, appears, however, 
constrained to send a feAV words in praise of our artist, and Ave think they are justified. He says:—“Your 
artist is a smart fellow or he could not execute the work he does in such finished style.” It is true our 
artist sometimes sketches a plant at one of the Royal Horticultural Society’s meetings on Tuesday, and sends 
us an engraving on Wednesday for our columns on Thursday; and this could only be done by a “smart 
felloAv,” and we recognise his services. 
One other short extract from the letter of a head gardener may be given—namely, “We are all very 
interested in your paper here. There are some excellent discussions on various subjects, and plenty of good 
sound advice for gardeners.” 
It is our AA’isli that discussion should be free and pleasantly conducted so as to elicit truth and 
never imjTair private friendships; it is our desire to give sound advice; it is our endeavour to produce 
useful and attractive issues, and with the aid of good helpers Ave shall not fail. We tender our best thanks 
to all. 
