The American Garden 
0^onthly journal of "T^ractical (gardening. 
Dr. F.- M. HEXAMER, Editor. 
B. K. BLI.SS & SONS, Publishers. 
Vol. V. 
NEW-YORK, MARCH, 1884. 
No. 3. 
SNOWDROPS AND CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 
During the past 
month we have re¬ 
ceived more encourag¬ 
ing and appreciative 
letters from our readers than during any 
other similar peidod. As it would be impos¬ 
sible to answer all individually, we acknow¬ 
ledge their receipt in this general way, and 
assure our correspondents of the high esteem 
in which we hold their appreciation, Mnd 
wishes, and encouraging words. 
Several of these letters contained interest¬ 
ing information about the gardening ex¬ 
periences of the writers, all of which shall 
receive due acknowledgment in future num¬ 
bers. We were especially pleased to receive 
valuable advice from persons eminently 
qualified .to judge about the requirements 
paper, and as such it aims to stand second 
to none. 
Without concentration and specialization, 
excellence is impossible in any field of liter¬ 
ature, science, art, or industry of any kind. 
Should we divide our attention, broaden our 
platform, and scatter our work over larger 
fields we couldnot expect to excelin all depart¬ 
ments. Then there are already many excellent 
publications entirely or largely devoted to the 
topics suggested by our correspondent. Why 
then increase their number? In general 
practical gardening, however. The Ameicah 
GtABDEN occupies a field of its own and does. 
Copyright, 1884, by B. K. BLISS & SOSS. 
A MAEOH DAT. 
It seems but yesterday almost when the 
first snow-flakes w'ere dropping among our 
bright, cheerful Chrysanthemums, remind¬ 
ing us in most forcible manner that summer 
aud autumn with all their glory had departed. 
Higher and higher the snow heaped up in 
dale and field until all natiu’e was laid at rest 
under the soft, sheltering down. 
The gardens of many of our readers are 
still heavily covered with snow, yet under 
its warm mantle, ever-living, ever-aetive 
Nature is at work to prepare her floral 
children for the near spring, and the per¬ 
formance of their life 
duties. 
But lo and behold! 
Here, on the south side 
of the sheltered shrub¬ 
bery, piercing through 
leaves, and close to the 
edge of snow and ice, 
are sweetly nodding the 
graceful sBverbells of 
spring’s harbinger — 
the Snowdrops. Crocus, 
Winter Aconite, and 
many other early spring 
flowers are also show¬ 
ing the tips.^ of their 
bright green leaves 
above the ground in 
the cosy nook. 
While we stand gaz¬ 
ing in admiration a 
dark cloud obstructs 
the smi; a few minutes 
later a heavy snow- 
squall beats rudely 
against our delicate 
pets, thus linking with 
snow-flakes the fare¬ 
well of autumn’s last 
flowers to the Snow¬ 
drops’ first greeting in 
spring. 
SOME SHaOESTIONS. 
and needs of horticultural publications. 
Some suggestions, however, it would be an 
utter impossibility to carry out, and others 
not without destroying what we consider 
the most intrinsic value and most important 
featiu-es of the paper. 
A lady writes: “ Why don’t you give in 
your paper some information about house¬ 
hold matters, and something to interest the 
children?” 
To this, and to all advice about adding 
other departments to our journal, we have 
simply to say that The Ajierican Garden 
is strictly and exclusively a horticultural 
not come in competition with other existing 
publications. There are none in our entire 
country which give as thorough and con¬ 
stant attention to every branch of practical 
gardening as The Ajierican Garden. 
It has been our aim from the beguining to 
furnish our readers a paper, every volume of 
which should be a complete manual of horti¬ 
culture, and every number a practical and 
reliable guide to their monthly garden work. 
That our endeavors have not been in vain, 
our rapidly increasing subscription lists bear 
unmistakable witness, and that most of our 
subscribers like their paper no.one can doubt 
who reads their com¬ 
plimentary remarks, a 
very few of which only 
we have space to pub¬ 
lish from time to time. 
To do the greatest 
good to the largest 
number of our sub¬ 
scribers' shall be our 
constant endeavor in 
the futm-e as it has 
been in the past, and 
we shall always be glad 
to receive suggestions 
and plans toward this 
end, but do not ask us 
to devote our columns 
to fashions, cookery, 
puzzles, and stories. ■ 
EEOODEAGmQ 'WOEDS. 
TuE Ajierican Garden 
camiot bo praised too 
highly.— X I., Niagara 
Falls, South Canada. 
With short, concise, 
practical articles. The 
American Garden is 
brimful every time. — JT. 
Jf., Youngsioxmi, 0. 
AVe like The Ajierican 
Garden better than any 
horticultural paper wo 
have over subscribed to. 
—F. S. L., Orwell, Yl. 
I get a dozen or two similar publications, but 
none suit me quite as well as The American 
G..UIDEN.—.E. E. F., SJdoeton, ITfs. 
The appearance of The Ajierican Garden has 
been greatly Improved by the new cover, while 
its contents are jxist as good as ever.— 0 . 8 . TT., 
Boehester, N. Y. 
What I like about The American Garden is 
that it has a purpose, and is so clear-headed and 
systematic throughout—which cannot bo said of 
many similar publications. Too much horticult¬ 
ural editing is slipshod.— S. JD, P., Norfolk Co., 
Mass. ' . 
The Ajierican Gar¬ 
den, with us, was “ love 
at first sight,” and the 
first number is well worth 
the yearly price.— T. F. F. S., Grand Fapids, 
Mieh. 
