6 PREFACE. 



natural shape, as human food ; as we generally call 

 these only by the name of vegetables, I have chosen 

 that word in preference to one, which, though more 

 strictly proper, would foe tess generally understood. 

 Nearly the same may be said of the word Herbs. 



6. Some persons may think, that Flowers are 

 things of no use ; that they are nonsensical things. 

 The pame may be, and, perhaps, with more reason, 

 said of pictures. An Italian, while he gives his for- 

 tune for a picture, will laugh to scorn a Hollander, 

 who leaves a tulip-root as a fortune to his son. For 

 my part, as a thing to keep and not to sell ; as a thing, 

 the possession of which is to give me pleasure, I he- 

 sitate not a moment to prefer the plant of a fine car- 

 nation to a gold watch set with diamonds. 



7. The territory of the United States includes 

 such a variety of climates ; degrees of heat and cold 

 so different at the same period of the year ; that it is 

 impossible to give instructions, as relating to time* 

 for sowing, planting, and so forth, that shall be ap- 

 plicable to every part of the country. I, therefore, 

 for the most part, make my directions applicable to 

 seasons, or states of the weather, rather than to 

 dates. When I make no particular mention as to 

 limes of the year, or month, it is to be understood, 

 that I am supposing my.ielf at, or near, the City of 

 New York, and that I am speaking of what ought to 

 be done there. With this clearly borne in mind, the 

 reader, who will know the difference in the degrees 

 of heat and cold in the different parts of the country, 

 will know how to apply the instructions accordingly. 



8. Those persons, who perform their garden work 

 themselves, will need no caution with respect to men 

 that they employ as Gardeners ; but, those who em- 

 ploy Gardeners ought by no means to leave them to 

 do as they please. Their practical experience is 



