Choice stove and greenhouse ornamental-leaved plants : comprising descriptions of more than nine hundred species and varieties : accompanied by instructions for their cultivation and mode of management ...

Front matter

THE

JOHN - CRAIG

LIBRARY

Contents

‘CISTERNS . 5 . 7 : ‘ . 7 a Fi .

CONSERVATORIES AND GREENHOUSES . 2 - ‘ . : GLAZING AND VENTILATING . : . . : 3 . GREENHOUSES AND CONSERVATORIES . ‘ : F ‘ ‘GREENHOUSES, PLAN OF . . j : - * .

HEATING. - : - . . ‘ 7 2 A Insects. ae 7 . wi : ‘ « P * INTRODUCTION ©. é : x fs : 5 . 3

Preface

By the large circulation the First Edition of my book on “Stove and Greenhouse Foliage Plants” has received, I have been induced to bring out a Second one, in which I have introduced many new Draceenas, Crotons, and other new plants, also fresh engravings, which I hope will be found useful and instructive to my readers, The First Edition has been circulated in all parts of the civilised world, and I hope it has been the means of increasing horticulture, and also the taste for foliage plants, as they are the most useful for decorating our Conservatories, Stoves, Halls, Dinner Tables, &c., always giving a delight to those whose tastes tend towards nature and her charming productions. From correspondents I hear how it has been appreciated, and I find that it has increased the taste of Amateurs, as being useful as a reference. I hope the present edition may receive as good a reception as the first.

B. S. WILLIAMS.

PREFACE.

Tre First Edition of my work on “Choice Stove sand Greenhouse Flowering Plants” has met with such success that it encourages me to issue a Second Edition, and, as well as the large sale I have had, ‘it has been found useful to amateurs as well as gardeners in their pursuits.

I have received intimations and assurances how thoroughly the work, both as a practical and useful one, has been appreciated. It is highly gratifying to me, and induces me to enlarge upon the subject by adding those plants that have been introduced since my first work on this subject was published. I have endeavoured to make it equally interesting to my readers as a second volume as it has been as a first, in the hopes that I may be spared to some future period to enlarge even more fully than I have done now, in the meantime my best thanks are due to my humerous patrons.

In laying the companion volume—devoted entirely to Stove and Greenhouse Plants with Ornamental Leaves—before the public, I am not without hope that, while redeeming a promise made in a former work, I may, at the same time, be affording equally useful information to a numerous circle of readers.

x PREFACE.

In thus making especial reference to plants with ornamental leaves, it should be clearly understood that I am quite prepared to admit that the leaves of every plant are full of beauty. There are, however, degrees of beauty; and while it is not reasonable to suppose that any one cultivator can find sufficient accommodation for all the choice Exotics which are to be found in European gardens, it is quite reasonable to conclude that from want of space he would be compelled to make a selection, retaining only those which most commend themselves to his admiration, either on account of their bold and striking or distinct character, or from their delicacy and beauty. To assist the Horticulturist in his efforts in this direction has been my chief aim in penning the pages of “ Choice Stove and Greenhouse Ornamental-leaved Plants,”

The woodcuts are partly original and partly derived from friends; several of them have appeared in the Gardeners’ Chronicle, in the Florist and Pomologist, and in the Gardeners’ Magazine. To the Editors of these periodicals I beg to tender my best thanks for the use of the blocks. I trust the success of this book will be sufficient to enable me to illustrate more largely in another edition. .

B. S. WILLIAMS.

ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS.