ORIGINAL PREFACE. 



THE general utility of HORTICULTURE, or the art of improving 

 every kind of soil; of producing a plentiful supply of wholesome 

 vegetables and fruits, so necessary to health in all countries, 

 especially in warm climates; of cultivating the various plants 

 designed by INFINITE GOODNESS to minister to the comforts of 

 animal life, by correcting the divers maladies to which it is sub- 

 ject by nature, and still more so, in the human race, by intem- 

 perance; of raising many articles of luxury and commerce, as 

 well as materials for ornamenting the whole face of the country 

 is too obvious to render any arguments necessary in favor of an 

 attempt to facilitate the general acquisition of that useful branch 

 of knowledge; but more especially in a country which has not 

 yet made that rapid progress in Gardening, ornamental planting, 

 and fanciful rural designs, which might naturally be expected 

 from an intelligent, happy, and independent people, possessed so 

 universally of landed property, unoppressed by taxation or tithes, 

 and blessed with consequent comfort and affluence. 



The neglect in these respects is, no doubt, to be attributed to 

 various causes, among the most prominent of which is the neces- 

 sity of having reference for information on those subjects to 

 works published in foreign countries, and adapted to climates by 

 no means according with ours, either in the temperature or course 

 of the seasons, and in numerous iD stances differing materially in 

 modes of culture from those rendered necessary here by the pecu- 

 liarities of our climates, soils, and situations. And however ex- 

 cellent and useful these works are in the regions to which they 

 are adapted, they tend to mislead and disappoint the young 

 American Horticulturist, instead of affording him that correct, 



