P E E F A C E 



The pleasure "with which I have, for several years, 

 pursued the labor of collecting and arranging the matter 

 of this Book, melts away, as I approach the tribimal which 

 is to pronoimce upon the result of that labor. The Public 

 Av^hich an author fears most is, after all, very small — it is 

 those of his own craft, who Avill easily discover his faihire ; 

 and it is precisely that small Public whose favor I am 

 most anxious to deserve. Cardinal De IIetz once said : 

 "He who is in good repute among liis own order, c^au 

 not easily be overthroA\Ti." 



It is from intelligent Pomologists that I shall receive 

 censure Avith the most humility, and praise with the most 

 gratification ; and it was hi hope of eammg the latter that 

 I have begun and completed this work. 



There is so little that is really original in any work, 

 that the unguarded and jealous critic, in reviewing some 

 humble author, is hi miminent danger of laimchmg his bolt 

 at some great and stjmdard authority. When cliarged, 

 by a critic of such rank, with imperfections, I shall 

 only be able to answer : " Sir, the best Pomologists 

 have contributed the most perfect results of their investi- 

 gations to this work ; and the insensible plagiarism, by 

 which another's idea is reproduced in my brain, ought not 

 to create prejudice agamst the idea." So much of what 

 is excellent in this work may, by long residence in my 

 own brahi, seem to have hud its origin there, that it woid<l 



(5) 



