

PREFACE. 
The “Sentiment of Flowers” had its 
origin in that celebrated publication, “ Le 
Langage des Fleurs ;’’ but though the system 
of Madame de la Tour has been adopted, 
it must be understood that this work is 
not a mere translation. Great care has 
been taken to add such information as 
was required to render the work com- 
plete, and a discretion has been exercised 
in the rejection or’ alteration of those 
passages not suited to the English taste; 
while the productions of our poets have 
been extensively read, in order to select 
illustrations which would best harmonise 
with the quality of which the plant is made 
emblematical. 
The Editor does not wish to detract from 
the merits of other (many of them valuable) 
publications of a similar character, yet he 
may be allowed to state that they are gene- 
rally very expensive, and contain notices of 
a limited number of plants only. Here, at 
a price less than that of any similar work, 


