MORTON, James.   SOUTHERN FLORICULTURE,   A Guide To The Successful Cultivation Of Flowering And Ornamental Plants In The Climate Of The SOUTHERN STATES.    Clarksville, Tenn.: W.P. Titus,   1890.          First and only edition. A scarce early manual on horticulture written specifically for conditions in the Southern states, with separate chapters devoted to specific flowers. Throughout the text there are numerous charming small illustrations from wood-engravings. In a chapter entitled "Novelties and Humbugs in Floriculture," Morton provides an insight into the flower trade, discussing the competition among florists and nurserymen to produce the rarest and the best for the consumer. He also cautions consumers against the wiles of the itinerant pedlar: "He has a beautiful plate book, is a good talker, and generally succeeds in getting the ladies of the house interested with his book, and the numerous fairy tales he will relate about the vigorous growth of his vines, the vivid coloring and exquisite perfume of his Roses, and the mellow Pears his tree will produce, will interest and captivate them all." In conclusion he makes recommendations for ventilation, greenhouses and flower pots, noting that he procures his from the pottery of Mapps Brothers in Ohio. Morton was the manager of Evergreen Flower Lodge in Clarksville, Tennessee, and also wrote a book on chrysanthemum culture.   12mo (15.1 x 11.9 cm); 12 + (17-) 312 pp. with wood-engraved illustrations throughout.            Original green cloth printed in gilt and black, very light shelfwear, endpaper reinforced along front hinge, but hinges tight. $400.00

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