iV PREFACE. 



and to describe all the newer varieties from the best 

 specimens obtainable, and these may not, in all cases, 

 have been perfect. Under such circumstances, this 

 work must necessarily be incomplete, and especially 

 where the possessors of claimed-to-be new and valuable 

 varieties have either refused or failed to give any infor- 

 mation in regard to them. On the contrary, however, 

 I must acknowledge my indebtedness to many corre- 

 spondents, who have so generously placed specimens of 

 both trees and nuts of rare new varieties in my hands 

 for testing and describing, as well as assisting me in 

 tracing their history and origin. 



That this treatise may become the pioneer of many 

 other and better works on nut culture is the sincere 

 wish of 



THE AUTHOR. 



RIDGEWOOD, N. J., 1896. 



