PREFACE. 



The methods of propagation and culture, when peculiar, will be found under each species : but wherever the same 

 treatment applies to a whole genus, the Farmer, Gardener, and Florist, will find the most explicit directions either 

 immediately following the Essential Character, or subjoined to the description of the first species, to which all the rest are 

 in the latter case invariably referred. Under every species of Grain, and of all plants used for the sustenance of man or 

 beast, as well as under the articles Grass, Land, Moss, Mould, Meadow, Manure, Mowing, Pasture, Blight, Mildew, 

 Vermin, Watering, Warping of Land, Weather, Weeds, Weeding, Wells, Hedges, Fences, &c. the intelligent Farmer 

 may ascertain the opinions, practice, and experience, of the first authorities in every thing that relates to agricultural 

 improvement. 







The very copious Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs, given at the end of the second Volume, will at once enable the 

 Gardener and Planter to select such as by their size, qualities, or places of growth, may best suit either general or 

 particular purposes, and will save the intolerable labour and loss of time, that must have been incurred had they been left 

 to examine the whole work in order to make that selection ; which, when thus readily made, refers them for further details 

 to the various species under their respective genera. The articles Dwarf Trees, Espaliers, Green-house, Hot-beds, 

 Melonary, Stove, Pine-Stove, Ice-house, Nursery, Orchard, Grafting, Inoculation, Lopping, Planting, Pruning, Gravel and 

 Grass Walks, Avenues, Wilderness Woods and Groves, Yard-manure, &c. with the Plates containing plans of the 

 Conservatory, Hot-house, Stove-Pinery, and those for ornamental laying out of grounds, &c. will be found of essential use 

 to the Planter, Nurseryman, and Gardener: the latter of whom will find the account of every plant with which he can 

 have the most immediate or remote concern, accompanied with copious directions, calculated to advance his useful labours. 

 He may also, under the head of Diseases of Plants, avail himself of ^all the knowledge and experience of Willdenow, as to 

 the treatment of unhealthy plants, concerning which so much uncertainty has long prevailed. The articles entitled Plant- 

 ing, Timber, and Woods, are peculiarly adapted for those whose attention is principally directed to the propagation of 

 useful trees, especially the Oak, Ash, Beech, Larch, Walnut, Chestnut., &c. : they will there find such general information 

 as could not have been conveniently introduced into the particular description of each kind of Timber-tree, to which, under 

 the names just enumerated, they are further referred for the most important details relative to their several qualities, and to 

 the best means for their propagation. The Florist also, under the various species of flowers, will arrive at the most 

 approved methods of bringing them to perfection, minutely laid down, principally upon the undoubted authority of the late 

 celebrated Philip Miller, to whom this Work, as well as the Science of Botany, is largely indebted. 



Interesting notices relative to the Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, are interwoven, wherever articles of Trade, as 

 Tanners' Bark, &c. have been described ; or wherever there appeared any possibility of applying the plant under exami- 

 nation to commercial or economical purposes. In the last place, (but not on that account of the least consequence,) those 

 Country Housekeepers who take delight in Botany, Agriculture, or Gardening, besides sharing the advantages already 

 specified under those particulars, will find throughout this Work, very numerous e.xcellent Recipes, which the copious 

 Indices of Diseases, accompanying each Volume, will readily refer them to, for the cure, or at least the mitigation, of most 

 disorders to which they are exposed. To render this part of the work still more complete, the plates of a certain number 

 of copies have beeifcoloured from nature, which, with the Directions for Gathering and Preserving the various Medicinal 

 Herbs given at the end of the Introduction, will always enable them to collect, and keep readv for use. an amnle stock of 

 those simple, but efficacious, remedies. 



THE EDITOR. 



London, Jan. 7, 1824. 





