PREFACE. V 



easily err therein," it may be necessary to remind such, 

 that the vegetable productions of the earth, being natives of 

 various soils and climates, require peculiar management 

 when cultivated in climates different to those in which 

 nature first produced them ; and, that although many species 

 of plants in common use with us, will endure the heat of 

 our summers, others can only be raised in perfection during 

 mild and temperate weather, and some require artificial 

 means to be used out of the ordinary seasons for gardening 

 operations. 



In the following pages, no efforts have been spared to 

 impart useful information on the several branches of horti- 

 culture. The directions for the cultivation of vegetables 

 are the result of twenty years' assiduous practice and 

 observation as a market gardener ; and it is presumed that 

 the Author's experience in other departments of gardening 

 has been sufficient to warrant him in this attempt to 

 instruct those who have not hitherto become acquainted 

 with the art. The Author considers it not derogatory to 

 acknowledge, that he has frequently compared his ideas with 

 those of other Authors, and that he has in some instances 

 availed himself of the benefit of their instructions ; but he 

 is not aware that in so doing, he has adopted any ideas 

 merely speculative ; to avoid which, he has invariably 

 submitted such manuscript to the scrutiny of experienced 

 gardeners of his acquaintance, and the result has generally 

 been such as to confirm him in his original positions. 



It must appear evident to the reader, on a review of this 

 work, that the Author in adopting the catalogue form, has 

 been enabled to give as much information as is necessary to 

 the cultivation of each particular kind of vegetable, in a 

 condensed form ; whereas, had he pursued the same course 

 as most of his- predecessors have done, his book would have 

 been considerably larger, and the reader must have been at 

 the trouble of perusing the greater part of it, at least twelve 

 times in the course of a year. The Author, however, being 

 aware of the convenience of a calendar, has in this edition 

 annexed one, which he presumes is well calculated not only 



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