THE FRUIT AND FORCING-GARDEN, by Mr. R. Erring- THE KITCHEN-GARDEN, by Mr. J. Barnes, Gardener to THE FLOWER GARDEN, by Mr. D. Beaton, Gardener to FLORISTS' FLOWERS, by Mr. T. Appleby, Floricultural THE GREENHOUSE AND WINDOW-GARDEN, by ORCHID CULTURE, by Mr. T. Appleby, Floricultural M VOLUME IV. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY WM. S. ORR AND CO., 2, AMEN CORNER. MDCCCL. TO OUR READERS. WE were quite aware that it savours of rashness to promise of great things yet to be achieved, when we said, in our last address, that we felt assured that at the conclusion of our next volume our readers would not withhold from us their approbation. But we had full confidence in our "men at arms;" and now that "next volume" is concluded, we fearlessly look our readers in the face, and ask for the approbation we anticipated. Not one of the able minds devoted to the enrichment of our pages but evinces that its strength is unexhausted; and not one but continues in some mode to repeat, "My armour's on,-I would that the lists were wider ;" and this is shown by what they have done from week to week, and from month to month. Then upon the merit of that strength which they have put forth we also fearlessly ask for approbation; for in no periodical in all our horticultural literature can be found such a mass of sound useful gardening information as within our "twopenny pages." We speak firmly upon this, because we have those best of testimonies-old friends continue with us, and a host of new friends come around us. One of the latter writes to us thus: "I hear from every quarter unqualified praise of your truly admirable publication, as well from brother clergymen as from other parties. I assure you the taking it in has become quite a connecting link between many people who would otherwise have not, perhaps, naturally been drawn together. It is a regular masonic sign-unmistakeable and humanizing." It is from such testimony as this that the weary brain and the weary hand gather encouragement and strength; and we can assure our readers that both these are strengthened, and that week by week they will find evidence in our pages that the "masonic sign" has not lost any of its freshness, nor any of its power. Old features, we are confident, will be found worthy of the welcome they will receive; and there will be new features, we think, quite deserving of being admitted into fellowship with the old. |