vi PREFACE. 



of perfection; their hardiness, productiveness, 

 and comparative value for cultivation, these 

 details, a knowledge of which is important as 

 well to the experienced cultivator as to the 

 beginner, have heretofore been obtained only 

 through sources scattered and fragmentary. 



To supply this deficiency in horticultural lit- 

 erature, I have endeavored, in the following 

 pages, to give full descriptions of the vegetables 

 common to the gardens of this country. It is 

 not, however, presumed that the list is com- 

 plete, as many varieties, perhaps of much excel- 

 lence, are comparatively local : never having 

 been described, they are, of course, little known. 

 Neither is the expectation indulged that all the 

 descriptions will be found perfect ; though much 

 allowance must be made in this respect for the 

 influence of soil, locality, and climate, as well 

 as for the difference in taste of different indi- 

 viduals. 



Much time, labor, and expense have been 



