★ Originally published in the 12th year of the Guangxu reign (1886) of the Qing dynasty, this work documents 136 species of flowers and trees. Its core focus is horticultural cultivation, offering detailed guidance on cutting methods, optimal planting times, taboos, and agricultural proverbs—making it exceptionally practical for gardening enthusiasts.
★ Classified into six categories such as “Fine Trees”, “Supple Shoots” and “Elegant Flowers”, and enriched with content like the “Twenty-Four Flower-News Periods” and “Seventy-Two Pentads Sequence”, the book’s clear structure combines cultivation know-how with the cultural heritage of traditional flower appreciation.
★ The original author earned the Jinshi (imperial scholar) degree in the 6th year of Guangxu (1880). His expertise in statecraft literature and connoisseurship ensures the botanical records are both professional and culturally nuanced.
★ The editor, holding a Ph.D. in Literature from Nanjing Normal University, applies scholarly rigor to collate this classical text, preserving its original essence while making it accessible to modern readers.

The Chinese Historical Horticulture Classics Collection comprises 8 volumes:
"Living Among Flowers"
"A Record of Appreciating Flowers"
"Manual of Celebrated Flowers"
"Notes on Cultivation from Jianpu"
"Cultivation Secrets & Aesthetic Pleasures"
"The Nine Honors, Nine Grades and Thirty Distinguished Guests Among Flowers"
"The Phenology and Seasonal Patterns of Flowers"
"Three Masterpieces of Ming Dynasty Flower Arrangement Art"

Published in 1886 during the Qing dynasty, it documents 136 species of flowers and trees. The book is organized into six sections. Its foremost value lies in its detailed horticultural guidance. Under each entry, the text covers practical cultivation aspects—introducing effective cutting and planting techniques, specifying optimal timing, noting taboos, and summarizing key principles through agricultural sayings and planting rhymes.

Xu Shouji achieved the Jinshi degree in 1880 and served as a county magistrate in Shandong. He was well-versed in statecraft writings, historical geography, and poetry, with a particular expertise in connoisseurship.