The author has little to add and nothing to erase from the above. The reason and cause of my presuming to write this simple volume holds good today. It was well received, and what was gratifying was the fact that as time went on the demand for the book increased. The first edition has long since been exhausted and hundreds of orders have since that been received and now await fulfilment, so I think that is a just encouragement to write a second edition.

No doubt all trades and professions consider their special calling has advanced at a wonderful rate, and in most cases this is doubtless true, but surely few professions have advanced with greater strides than the glorious field of horticulture with all its intellectuality. with new and improved varieties of florists' flowers have come better methods of cultivation. In fact we owe to rational and improved methods of culture the marvelous improvement in our leading florists' flowers more than to the introduction of new varieties, although great has been the painstaking work of hybridists.

We honestly hope and believe that we have kept in touch with the work and achievements of our most progressive men, and have taken sincere pleasure in imparting to our readers all knowledge we consider of value which we possessed.

This edition has been written with greater effort than the first because of poor health, yet many happy hours have been spent in its composition. With much gratitude for the many kind words expressed regarding the first edition, and hoping that the second will be found up-to-date on most leading subjects, I am.

Your respectful friend,

William Scott.

Buffalo, March 10, 1906.

Whatever ability I may possess in the glorious field of horticulture, although far less than my early opportunities afforded, I inherited from my beloved father, who was a good man and a great gardener, and to whose memory, with reverence, I dedicate these pages.

William Scott.

The Florists' Manual.

Illustrated.

A Reference Book for Commercial Florists.