THE COMPLETE GARDEN - BY ALBERT D. TAYLOR - PREFACE - REASONS FOR THIS BOOK. The author has for some time felt that there was needed in the landscape field, especially by the amateur gardener, a book of this type. He has believed that such a book would be of value to everyone who is intcrested in the important work of landscape plantings, not only to the amateur but to the expert gardener and to the property owner who has made an exhaustive study of plant uses and plant adaptations. One of the reasons for the publication of these planting lists for different purposes is that it provides a permanent record for future reference. There is no good reason why a landscape architect thoroughly familiar, as a result of years of experience, study, and observation, with the use of plants sbould devote his time and thought to the compilation of lists of plants for different purposes, such as wild gardens, spring gardens, rock gardens, and bog gardens in connection with some specific problem only to have eachlist of material cease to exist for the use of others, as soon as the work in question is completed. Plant lists compiled by capable landscape architects are too frequently used only for one problem, thus requiring the next man who starts to work upon a similar problem to begin his study, not where the other man left off, but at the same point wherc the other man began, duplicating work and wasting much time and energy. It is not meant to imply that all ornamental plants can be confined within d.efinite standardized lists from which those who attempt to select plants for a specific purpose must choose. It is the authors sincere feeling that lists of plants compiled as the result of the different studies and investigations continually being made, in connection with the landscape problems of many clients, may be accepted as a starting point or a reference beyond which a planter is at........... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.