PREFACE. vii 



devoted to secure accuracy of names and syn- 

 onymes, the seeds of nearly all of the prom- 

 inent varieties having been imported both from 

 England and France, and planted, in connection 

 with American vegetables of the same name, 

 with reference to this object alone. 



The delay and patience required in the prep- 

 aration of a work like the present may be in 

 some degree appreciated from the fact, that in 

 order to obtain some comparatively unimportant 

 particular with regard to the foliage, flower, 

 fruit, or seed, of some obscure and almost un- 

 known plant, it has been found necessary to 

 import the seed or root ; to plant, to till, to 

 watch, and wait an entire season. 



Though some vegetables have been included 

 which have proved of little value either for the 

 table or for agricultural purposes, still it is 

 believed such descriptions will be found by no 

 means unimportant ; as a timely knowledge of 

 that which is inferior, or absolutely worthless, 



