f e
p r e f a c e .
A V IN G , some few years ago, been associated in
the condudt of a journal devoted to horticulture,
I amassed for literary purposes much of the
material made use of in the present volume.
Upon the discontinuance of the journal, I resolved
to classify and arrange the plant lore
thus accumulated, with a view to its subsequent publication, and
I have since been enabled to enrich the colledlion with much Continental
and Indian lore (which I believe is quite unknown to the
great majority of English readers) from the vast store to be found
in Signor De Gubernatis’ volumes on plant tradition, a French
edition of which appeared two years ago, under the title of La
Mythologie des Plantes. To render the present work comprehensive
and at the same time easy of reference, I have divided the volume
into two sedtions, the first of which is, in point of fadt, a digest of
the second; and I have endeavoured to enhance its interest by
introducing some few reprodudtions of curious illustrations pertaining
to the subjedts treated of. Whilst preferring no claim for
anything beyond the exercise of considerable industry, I would
state that great care and attention has been paid to the revision
of the work, and that as I am both author and printer of my
book, I am debarred in that dual capacity from even palliating
my mistakes by describing them as “ errors of the press.” In
tendering my acknowledgments to Prof. De Gubernatis and other
authors I have consulted on the various branches of my subjedt,
I would draw attention to the annexed list of the principal works
to which reference is made in these pages..
R ICH A RD FO LK A RD , J u n .
C r i c k l e w o o d , A i l g u s t , 18 8 4 .