IV PREFACE. 



local experience. Neither have I any apologies to make 

 for sending forth this little work on its mission, for it has 

 not been written to gratify any personal ambition, but to 

 supply that which my extended correspondence for years 

 .past has shown to be an indispensable necessity. Thous- 

 ands of inquiries are addressed to me, orally and by letter, 

 every year, for information relating to small fruit culture, 

 until the tax upon my time has become so serious as to inter- 

 fere with other duties. To meet these inquiries, and throw 

 what little light I could upon the subject, has been my 

 only object, and whether success has crowned my efforts, 

 or otherwise, the public will decide. 



To the many gentlemen who have so kindly and gratui- 

 tously sent me specimens of plants of the new fruits in 

 years past, I return my sincere thanks, hoping that they 

 will not judge too harshly if I have not thought proper to 

 praise certain varieties as highly as they may think they 

 deserve. It is such a difficult task to decide which are 

 really the best, where there are so many that are good, 

 that I have preferred to err, if at all, in not overrating the 

 merits of particular varieties, rather than to paint in glow- 

 ing terms those which may have appeared to me as deserv- 

 ing of such commendation. To Chas. Downing I am parti- 

 cularly indebted, for plants of a great number of the small 

 fruits, both old and new, many of which it is doubtful if I 

 could have procured elsewhere, as some had become almost 

 obsolete. 



Hoping that this little work will be as kindly received 

 by the public as it is given by the author, and that it will 

 assist in creating a desire for more extended knowledge 

 upon the subject, until a more able pen shall be employed 

 upon it, is the wish of 



ANDREW S. FULLEB. 

 Ridgetiood, N. 7., April 25th, 1867. 



