XII IXTKODTJCTION TO FIKST EDITION. 



the winter, in the midst of other engagements that ren- 

 dered it impossible to bestow upon it the necessary care 

 and labor. My original intention was to give a few brief 

 directions for the management of garden-trees, but it was 

 suggested by friends that it would prove more generally 

 useful by adding a sketch of the entire routine of opera- 

 tions, from the propagation in the nursery to the manage- 

 ment in the orchard and garden. This has involved much 

 more labor than it was intended to bestow upon it, or than 

 I could really spare frorrubusiness. It has, therefore, been 

 performed hastily, and, of course, in many respects, im- 

 perfectly; but yet it is hoped it contains such an exposi- 

 tion of principles and practices as cannot fail to diffuse 

 amongst the inexperienced much needed information. All 

 doubtful theories, and whatever had not a direct practical 

 bearing on the subjects treated, have been excluded, both 

 for the sake of brevity, and to avoid anything calculated 

 to mislead. The principles and practices set forth are not 

 new, visionary, nor doubtful, but such as are taught and 

 practised by the most accomplished cultivators of the 

 day, and have been successfully carried out in the daily 

 operations of our own establishment. 



In the pruning and management of garden-trees, the 

 French arboriculturists surpass all others. Their trees 

 are models that have no equals, and that all the world 

 admire. The English, notwithstanding their great gar- 

 dening skill, and their refined and elegant modes of cul- 

 ture, are far behind the French in the management of 

 fruit-trees. French systems of pruning and training are 

 at this moment advocated and held up as models *.,y such 

 men as Mr. Robert Thompson, head of the fruit depart- 

 ment in the London Horticultural Society's Garden ; by 

 Mr. Hivers, well known on this side of the Atlantic as 

 one of the most energetic and accomplished nurserymen 

 in Great Britain, and by many others whose skill and 

 judgment command attention. Their introduction to 



