INTRODUCTION BY AMERICAN 
EDITOR. 
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"0 apology is needed for having brought together, 
in a presentable form, a few of the many beauti¬ 
ful things that the poets have written on flowers. The 
impulse was a natural one, originating in love of the 
3ubject, and a desire that others should feel and enjoy 
the pleasure of familiarity with the best and highest 
thoughts upon them. The idea of such a collection 
once entertained, the only difficulty was what to omit. 
No one who has not examined English poetry with an 
especial view to the poetry of flowers, could imagine 
the extent to which that rich theme has inspired the 
sons of song. Only Love has prompted more verses; 
and even that universal topic is so indebted to the 
