PEEFACE. Vll 



associations were with fruits and fruit trees ; the greater part of my 

 active life has been engaged in their cultivation and devoted to their 

 study ; and for nearly ten years, I had the advantage of making an 

 annual tour throughout the length and breadth of England and 

 Scotland, during which, I allowed no opportunity to escape of 

 making myself acquainted with the fruits of the various districts, and 

 securing correspondents to whom I could apply, in cases of necessity. 

 With these advantages, I some years ago established an orchard, 

 for the purpose of examining the distinctive characters and deter- 

 mining the nomenclature of fruits ; and there I have succeeded, in 

 securing all the varieties it is possible to procure, either in this 

 country or abroad, and thereby to obtain from personal observation 

 all the information attainable on the subject. 



In the execution of this work, my object has been, not to give a 

 mere selection of the best varieties of fruits cultivated in this 

 country, but to describe minutely, and at length, all the varieties 

 with their essential characters, distinguishing those which are, and 

 those which are not worthy of cultivation. I have endeavoured 

 to embrace all the fruits which are recorded as existing in Great 

 Britain, and although it cannot be supposed I have been able to ob- 

 tain the whole of them, still, I have secured such a number as will 

 leave but a very small portion un-noticed The plan which I 

 have adopted in the general arrangement will be found to em- 

 brace all matters both descriptive, historical, and critical, touching 

 the several varieties. The nomenclature I have followed is, except in 

 some instances for reasons given, that of the London Horticultural 

 Society's Catalogue, a valuable work prepared by that patient and 

 indefatigable pomologist, Mr, Robert Thompson. The advantage 

 of this identity of nomenclature is evident, as it sets at rest that 

 mass of confusion, which so long existed as to the correct names of 

 fruits. In describing each variety, the approved name, that is the 

 name wliich shall serve as a standard by which that variety shall in 

 future be distinguished, is printed in Roman Capitals ; and either 

 abbreviated, or in full length, is annexed the name of the author 

 who first records or describes it. When the variety is of such 

 antiquity as not to be identified with any particular author, tlie 



