U PREFACE. 



under which they are known in different places. Those 

 cultivators who are more anxious to raise large quantities of 

 trees for sale, than to test their characteristics, are often led 

 into error by cherishing the belief that the names of all the 

 varieties they propagate are indisputably correct ; and hence 

 it is that so many of our fruits are frequently sold under 

 wrong names. Persons who purchase trees under such cir- 

 cumstances, on discovering a mistake, are apt to compare 

 the fruit with others of a similar character, and very fre- 

 quently adopt synonymous names, which increases the evil 

 to such an extent, that, unless a nurseryman tests all the 

 various kinds by specimen trees kept for the purpose in his 

 own orchard, he cannot always be certain what variety he is 

 selling. I do not, however, by these remarks intend to 

 reflect on any of our respectable nurserymen, because tho 

 vast improvement making every year in their catalogues is 

 a convincing proof that they are aiming at perfection in their 

 collections. 



In the following pages I have endeavoured to do justice to 

 each article, by embodying all the essential points of cultiva- 

 tion, and as our native vines are destined to become very 

 generally cultivated in the United States, I have occupied 

 over sixteen pages in treating of vine culture, and can truly 

 say that I have thoroughly weighed every point before put- 

 ting my pen to paper, and have not in any case adopted 

 mere speculative theory, as is too often done by compilers 

 of gardening books. 



As I am not disposed to tire the reader with a lengthy 

 preface, I shall conclude by reminding him that the Calen 

 dar and Index is intended as a key to the body of the work ; 

 thus, the most important business of each month is briefly 

 shown, with figures of reference to that particular page 

 which treats more fully on the subject. The advantages of 

 this plan must bt> evident to the most superficial observer. 



T. BRIDGEMAN. 



