PREFACE. 
Another year is closing, and another volume of The 
Florist’s Journal is before the public, to receive its 
measure of praise or condemnation — may it be found 
“ perfect in all its parts ! ” It is usual on this occasion of an 
annual address, to speak of ourselves and our prospects, but 
for once we indulge a propensity to speak of others •—pre¬ 
viously assuring our friends, lest they stumble on some 
misconception, that we are perfectly satisfied with both. 
It is, we think, sometimes as useful, and always more 
gratifying, occasionally to review the difficulties we have 
overcome, as to narrowly examine those likely to occur; 
and with this idea, we propose to glance retrospectively 
and cursorily at the advance that has been made and the 
improvements effected since May 1840, the period of our 
commencement. 
For some time both before and after that date Horticul¬ 
ture was declining; a degree of apathy pervaded its several 
interests — though, fortunately, without materially injuring 
any of them — until, in 1841-2, a reaction occurred, 
which threw new vigour into every branch of the science; 
a 
