THIS CATALOGUE IS A PIONEER IN 
THE REFORM OF NOMENCLATURE 
E SCIENTIFIC' names of plants are a great bother. Unfortunately they are 
necessary. It is a pity that they are always changing. Xo lover of plants 
likes to pay good money for an old plant under a new name. The synonyms 
are endless, and the nurseryman and gardener cannot always tell which name 
to use. Many people blame the botanists for the present state of anarchy. The 
trouble is largely with the plants themselves. Botany is not an exact science 
and never can be. As the knowledge of the vegetable kingdom extends, the 
names of plants are bound to change. The best that can be done is to follow the best authority. 
Until recently the best authorities for garden purposes were Index Kewensis and Nicholson’s 
dictionary of Gardening. Now the best authority for America is the Cyclopedia of American 
Horticulture, which will be completed in 1901. Two volumes have been published, including 
A to M. At the time these volumes were published they contained all the names of plants 
known to be sold in America. Thev also include hundreds of wild tlowers which one might' 
not think are in cultivation. Of course, new plants are coming in and the Cyclopedia will 
soon be behind in this respect, but a small annual volume is hoped for in which the novelties 
will be described, if sufficient interest is expressed. Such volumes will doubtless contain a 
cumulative index, so that one need not look in more than two places for an account of any 
plant cultivated in America. It is to be hoped that all who think such a series of annual 
volumes necessary will show their interest by urging the publishers (The Macmillan Company) 
to undertake this work in order to keep the Cyclopedia of American Horticulture always 
up to date. 
All the names in this Catalogue have been carefully compared with the Cyclopedia of, 
American Horticulture. I have included such synonyms as will protect my customers from 
unwittingly buying the same thing twice under dilferent names, and also such synonyms as will 
help lovers of gardens in changing their labels to keep up with the times. 
This catalogue was one of the very few catalogues in the world which was standardized 
with Index Kewensis and Nicholson, and so far as I know it is the first to be standardized 
with the Cyclopedia of American Horticulture, though all the leading plant catalogues are likely 
to follow as soon as the work is complete. 
My customers often ask why I do not use common names entirely, instead of scientific 
ones. The reason is that the same popular name often means two or more very distinct things 
lo diflerent people. Nevertheless this Catalogue contains many popular names throughout, and 
more will be added as cross references if my customers desire. I shall be glad of any 
corrections or suggestions. Meanwhile, those who do not possess the Cyclopedia of American 
Horticulture may change their labels to agree with the names in this Catalogue —at least from 
A to M for these are the names which will be used in common speech from now on as long 
an we are likely to live. 
Yours faithfully, 
FRED’K H. HORSFORD 
Charlotte, Vermont 
