VI PREFACE. 



day. My designs and illustrations of fruits, with their cores and 

 seeds, concentric lines, etc., have been very generally approved 

 by horticulturists throughout the Union. I have ever considered 

 these features essential to a scientific description, and my only 

 regret is, that the public, as yet, are unwilling to pay a sum war- 

 ranting the publication of a work wherein every variety of fruit 

 should be fully figured and described. 



It will be found, on examination, that I have credited every 

 author with whatever I have extracted from his works : that all 

 descriptions of fruits, made by others, have attached thereto the 

 initials of the author's name, or abbreviations of the title of the 

 work from which they were taken. 



I have continued my classification mainly as in previous Editions, 

 simply changing the terms designating their classes. Of the 

 descriptions of fruit, some explanation may be necessary. First, 

 is given the standard name in capitals. Below this are placed, in 

 smaller type, the various synonyms, or local names, by which the 

 *ame fruit is known in various countries, or parts of the country. 



The text, descriptive of nearly every valuable variety, will be 

 lound to explain in what section of country, and in what soil, it 

 succeeds best. Having given more attention to Southern fruits, 

 and their seasons, than formerly, and finding many to succeed 

 well South, that have been superseded North and East, I have 

 introduced them throughout the work ; hence, I think it will be 

 found as well adapted to that as to other portions of the United 

 States. 



It would have given me satisfaction to append to each and every 

 variety its habit of growth, color of wood, form of buds, leaf, 

 &c., &c., but I have been compelled to omit this, except wUh the 

 most popular sorts, from the fact that such additional natter 

 would sweh 1 the volume beyond the intended limits of the wrork. 



F. R '&. 



ST. Louis, Mo., Jan. 1859. 



