In getting up this work no expense or trouble has been spared, either in the letter press, the binding, or in procuring colored engravings of the highest character, to make it suitable, as well for a parlor as a pocket, companion.

A Glossary, carefully compiled from the best botanical works, has been added, which, it is believed, will be found brief, comprehensive, and well adapted to the instruction of the young amateur.

Not being a professed Botanist, I may have committed some errors in the botanical descriptions; but I trust that if it be so, they will be found to be of so trivial a nature as not materially to impair the value of the work.

Under these circumstances I beg the indulgence of my readers, hoping that my humble efforts to facilitate their progress in Floriculture may not be considered unworthy of their favorable regard.

GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE.

GARDENING.

"No tale of passion have I to breathe,
Yet, gentle reader, I fain would wreathe
A floral garland, whose leaves shall be
Emblems and tokens of love and thee.
FLOWERS!-they bloom by the lowliest cot-

May they gladden, and brighten, and bless thy lot.”

Gardening is founded on natural philosophy, and the least economical principle in its study of course informs the mind into the nature and truth of the culture of flowers, and we then discover the habit of those plants we wish to cultivate with success. Where nature has not endowed the mind with a natural taste for the physiological principles of the culture of flowers, it is time lost by endeavoring to acquire it.

"What then, is taste, but those internal powers,
Active and strong, and feelingly alive

To each fine impulse? a discerning sense
Of decent and sublime, with quick disgust
From things deformed, or disarranged, or gross
In species? This, nor gems, nor stores of gold.
Nor purple state, nor culture, can bestow:
But God alone, when first his active hand
Imprints the sacred bias of the soul."

Where taste really does exist, there is a manifold pleasure to the mind that serves to preserve the human life more essentially than appears to the common observer. This may appear strange; but when we reflect on the solace the mind undergoes at leisure moments, even to the business man the evenness created in the temper - the pleasurable change he experiences after the pursuit of business all tend to create in the mind that which it stands in need of, a blissful feeling, an incentive that keeps the body in health and vigor. The occupancy of Gardening after the business of the day is over, if not thus passed, would be in luxury or temporary pleasure which would only debilitate the mind and constitution. That part of Gardening which relates to the culture of plants is of easy management, and does not require the skill so generally supposed or bestowed on them. Many plants are killed by kindness, when it should be borne in mind that plants, like the human family, require a state of rest, therefore should not be kept always in a growing state. For instance, a person deprived of his natural rest becomes eventually unfit for his avocation; not only that, he must live regular, or he will never be vigorous or of a healthful habit. Plants are living things; nature has not endowed them with speech, it is true; still, by watching them close, there are certain signs in their appearance so apparent that will convince the cultivator that, if not treated correct in their habit, a different system must be adopted. Therefore, to come as near nature as possible, our understanding should teach us that plants in pots should be repotted into fresh soil in their season; that is, when in a state of rest, and be watered only when growing, to make them healthy, and the soil should be as near

that as we can possibly find to suit their natural habit; by doing this we make them healthy, and perform the function so desirable in them to flower well. This is the business of the amateur to see to, and may be considered their food and rest, without which no science in Gardening can prosper.

Gardening, as amusement, is certainly one of the most pleasing recreations in existence, possessing novelty, and enthusiasm, and is food to the human mind which softens the passions, meliorates the understanding, and adds days of happiness to that period of our existence which our Maker has blessed us with. The mind is filled with a pleasing excitement, even in the attainment of a new plant, thus giving to science an opportunity of still increasing those pleasures so desirable. The diffusion of a useful knowledge in Gardening is also communicative from one person to another, making our condition as natural beings, more commanding, and developing our ideas as they expand, and more influential in the path of life, even to the most humble part of vegetable physiology. There has been, in most. works published, a mystery on the subject of Gardening and the propagation of plants; for why, may it be asked, has this dogmatical system predominated so long? This cannot be answered unless the whole system has been confined too much to certain classes of men who, instead of endeavoring to create a taste for flowers, have been more studious to check floriculture, unmindful, at the same time, that the more converts gained to the system of Gardening the more plants would be sold by them. The knowledge of cultivating is now becoming better known; indeed, the whole art is in a state of revolution; we cannot turn to any place but we see some of the most beautiful gems of Flora

almost at every house. This is as it should be; ladies will find a solace to their minds in their leisure hours that could not be better employed.

In regard to gardeners in general, in this country, the major part are self-taught: a reflection on this particular subject alone ought to encourage those possessing a natural taste for the science, that the ART is attainable; this will better enable any to cultivate with a prospect of success. The Scotch gardeners are considered the best in Europe; we seldom find an English gardener, on his arrival in this country, capable of conducting a green-house as it should be done. This leads a person to suppose that those exotics are only employed in the drudgery of weeding in their native country, and when here wish to pass for bona fide gardeners; indeed, most of the experienced English gardeners find their knowledge of cultivation in this country deficient, as the difference of clime and soil varies materially to what they were accustomed to; but a scientific man will soon discover the difference and alter his mode, if not too old in his fixed principles or prejudice.

There are other sciences attached to gardening that makes the system more complete, which is understood but partially in practice, and not at all in theory. I allude to Botany, that part which relates to plants; it is a branch that ought to be studied, as it leads the mind to a thorough knowledge of the distinct species of plants, their properties, sexes, order, and indeed the whole system. The ground work of this science leads the mind to a knowledge of many important particulars in relation to flowers. To know how to anatomize flowers is particularly interesting to the mind of the cultivator, though not absolutely necessary.