PREFACE. 



THE general utility of HORTICULTURE, or the Art of improv- 

 ing every kind of soil ; of producing a plentiful supply of whole- 

 some vegetables atui fruits, so , y to health in all countries, 

 especially in warm climates ; of cultivating the various plants de- 

 signed by IN UNITE GOODNESS, to minister to the comforts of ani- 

 mal life, by correcting the divers maladies to which it is subject by 

 nature, and still more so, in the human race, by intemperance ; 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 favour of an attempt to facili- 

 tate 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 de- 

 signs, which might naturally be expected from an intelligent, happy 

 and independent people, possessed so universally of landed proper- 

 ty, unoppressed by taxation or tithes, and blest with consequent 

 comfort and affluence. 



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

 uos causes, an; ong the most prominent of which, is the necessity of 

 having reference for information on those subjects, to works pub- 

 lished in foreign countries, and adapted to climates, by no means 

 according with ours, either in the temperature or course of the 

 ->ns, and in numerous instances, differing materially iu modes of 

 culture, /rora those rendered necessary here, by the peculiarities of 

 our climates, soils and situations. And however excellent and use- 

 ful 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, judicious and suitable instruc- 

 tion, the happy result of which would give impulse to his perse- 

 verance. 



To obviate this necessity, as much as in my power, and to 

 contribute my mite to the welfare of my fellow-citizens, and to 

 the general improvement of the country, I have undertaken this 

 work, and arranged the matter according to the seasons of the year ; 

 that the reader may have an easy reference to the particular busi- 



