Prefatory Remarks 



By the Publisher. 



A work on gardening, up to the times and fully explaining 

 all modern methods, has long been needed. Several years ago 

 I started the rough outline of a treatise on this subject, but 

 owing to my time being so largely taken up with my varied 

 business interests, I found it impossible to finish it ; and to tell 

 the truth I did not feel competent to handle the subject as it 

 deserved. At this stage of the proceedings my friend, 

 Mr. T. Greiner, offered to take a hand, and for a year or more he 

 has been busy writing the following pages, which I take pleasure 

 in presenting to the public as the very best and most practical 

 work ever written for the benefit of the American vegetable 

 gardener. 



I am confident it will prove the stepping-stone to successful 

 gardening for many thousands who are now unacquainted with 

 this, the noblest calling on earth ; while I know it will give many 

 profitable common-sense ideas to those who are even now high 

 up in the profession. 



Yours very truly, 



WM. HENRY MAULE. 



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