373 THE GARDEN-CRAFT OF SHAKESPEARE 
With this beautiful description of the winter-life of hardy 
perennial plants, I may well close the “ Plant-lore and Garden- 
craft of Shakespeare.” The subject has stretched to a much 
greater extent than I at all anticipated when I commenced it, 
but this only shows how large and interesting a task I under¬ 
took, for I can truly say that my difficulty has been in the 
necessity for condensing my matter, which I soon found might 
be made to cover a much larger space than I have given to it; 
for my object was in no case to give an exhaustive account of 
the flowers, but only to give such an account of each plant as 
might illustrate its special use by Shakespeare. 
Having often quoted my favourite authority in gardening 
matters, old “John Parkinson, Apothecary, of London,” I 
will again make use of him to help me to say my last words: 
“ Herein I have spent my time, pains, and charge, which, if 
well accepted, I shall think well employed. And thus I have 
finished this work, and have furnished it with whatsoever 
could bring delight to those that take pleasure in those things, 
which how well or ill done I must abide every one’s censure ; 
the judicious and courteous I only respect; and so Farewell.” 
