TlIE_ JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDFNEP, December 29, 1892. ] 
TO OUR READERS. 
At the close of another Half-yearly Volume our first duty and pleasure is to record, gratefully, the happy 
circumstance that all our esteemed coadjutors, the members of our staff, are still spared to impart, as they 
so well can, sound lessons in Gardening in its various aspects. 
Some of them have their “locks silvered by past years,” and are happy in adding to their ripeness 
in experience an almost blithsome lucidity in expression, which makes their writings, as a correspondent 
expresses, “ ever fresh and free.” 
Others add to the comparative buoyancy of youth, and its sanguine utterance, sober thought and 
logical acumen that render their productions acceptable and suggestive. 
Still more—and we are pleased to say more than ever—of our readers, both amateurs and gardeners, 
have become instructors by the contribution of articles at once creditable to themselves, useful to others, 
and generally appreciated. 
In the Volume to which the accompanying index refers will be found the first Essays for which silver 
medals have been granted, and we desire to tender to the writers of them our best congratulations. While 
recognising the cultural ability displayed by men who win prizes at exhibitions, we think that not less 
honour is due for skill in literary productions. We have other Essays in hand, and with the object of 
securing the best information on specified subjects, imparted in commendable literary guise, it is possible 
that the scope of some competitions will be enlarged. These medals will afford tangible evidence of 
horticultural acquirements and intelligence by their possessors. 
Looking back over the past as we do thankfully, we look forward hopefully, confidently, that the high 
claims of Horticulture to national respect will be more and more recognised—sure as we are that the 
ancient art will lead the way in the development of the soil’s resources—the root of all prosperity, for 
the origin of wealth—food—is to be traced to the soil. 
In this development the Journal of Horticulture will have no mean share, for it has as willing 
Lsupporters—helpers and workers in the worthy effort—the ablest and best exponents of gardening, the 
foremost cultivators of, and readiest writers on, flowers, fruit, and vegetables in the world. 
To all—experts and probationers, amateurs and gardeners, writers and readers, we tender the hand 
of friendship—friends in a common and good cause—and wish to each and all, in no perfunct >ry manner, 
but in the fullest sense that the words convey 
A Happy New Year. 
