^ fflonthly J’ournal of practical gardening. 
Dr. F. M. HEXAMER, Editor. 
B. K. BLISS & SONS, Publishers. 
Vol. V. 
NEW-YORK, FEBRUARY, 1884. 
No. 2. 
ABOUT OUBSBLVES. 
Thanks to the kind efforts of our friends, 
a largo number of new subscribers has been 
added to our subscription list. To prove to 
these, as well as to our old friends, that wo 
are not unmindful of their confidence, shall 
be our earnest aim. We have always en¬ 
deavored to make The Asiericah Garden 
worthy of the general commendation it has 
received, and shall, dui’ing the present year, 
spare no efforts to maintain its high position 
among its contemporaries. 
As far as the mechanical part,—^ paper, 
types, printing, illustrations, and the general 
brought to the highest degree of usefulness. 
However well informed an editor may be 
no one fit for the position is vain enough to 
believe that he knows more than all his 
readers. The more carefully he studies 
their needs and consults their preferences, 
the more valuable can he make his paper to 
them. 
Many of oiu- readers have, no doubt, given 
paiticular attention to the cultivation of 
certain classes of flowers, fruits, or vege¬ 
tables, and have learned special methods of 
treatment not familiar to others. In a few 
minutes of time the essence of such knowl- 
what they owe, but fi'om absolute necessity. 
To keep a debit and credit account for every 
subscriber and collect outstanding bills 
would cost more than the profits of the pub¬ 
lication amount to. We would much prefer 
not to publish a paper at all than to adopt so 
rubious a policy. 
NO MISTAKE, 
It is not by mistake that subscribers re¬ 
ceive occasionally more than one copy of the 
paper. To those of our readers who we 
have reason to believe take an interest 
THE BLUE SPRUCE IN PROF. SARGENT'S GARDEN, NEAR BOSTON. 
(For description, see page 30.) 
artistic execution,— are concerned, it would 
bo difi&cult to suggest improvement. Among 
our regular contributors are many of the 
foremost practical horticulturists and most 
accomplished writers of the country; and, 
in our editorial work, the results of a life¬ 
long study of the sciences relating to the 
cultivation of the soil, as well as constant 
and practical experience in all branches of 
horticulture, are made subservient to the 
interests of our readers. 
There is a department, however, in which, 
we think, there is room for improvement, 
and to accomplish this we need the assist¬ 
ance of our friends.' It is the interchange of 
the ■ opinions and experiences of its read¬ 
ers through which alone a journal can'bc 
edge may often bo condensed upon a postal 
card, and, if mailed to us, made serviceable 
to thousands. It is, of com-se, impossible to 
publish all communications received; but 
every suggestion, every item of information, 
helps and adds to the general improvement 
and practical value of the paper. 
OPEN ACCOUNTS. 
The American Garden does not keep open 
accounts ivith its subscribers. When a sub¬ 
scription expires the paper is invariably 
discontinued, and it is impossible to make 
even a single exeep.ti6n to this rule. This is 
not from any lack of confidence in our sub¬ 
scribers, or fear that they would not pay 
CopyrigUt, 1884, by B. K. Bliss & SOKS. 
in The American Garden, we send some¬ 
times an extra copy in the .hope that they 
may hand it to some of their horticidt- 
ural friends, that they may speak a kind 
word for us, and induce them to subscribe 
also. 
A BEAUTIFUI. COLOEED PLATE. 
With our March number we shall present 
to every subscriber for 1884 a beautiful 
colored plate of Pansies. This will be the 
most life-like and artistic plate of its kind 
ever published, and is considered by compe¬ 
tent artists a masterwork of color-printing. 
For framing it is easily worth a year’s sub¬ 
scription, to The American Garden. 
