iv Preface. 



By placing them under separate and characteristic heads, 

 the cultivator is enabled to distinguish and remember 

 each sort with more readiness than where all are thrown 

 indiscriminately together. The names of those fruits 

 which have been proved of the greatest general value or 

 which have received a large vote in their favor, either in 

 particular regions, or throughout the country, are distin- 

 guished by being printed in small capitals. One of the 

 chief points for determining the classification is the time 

 of ripening ; and the principal fruits are separated into 

 summer, autumn, and winter sorts. As the time of 

 ripening, however, varies several weeks in different parts 

 of the country, and no exact line could be drawn for these 

 three divisions, it would be strictly correct to classify 

 them as early, medium, and late. With this understand- 

 ing, however, the terms used will answer the purpose, and 

 will not mislead. 



The limits of the work, and the condensed character 

 of the descriptions, have often forbidden a reference to 

 authorities. A general acknowledgment, however, is due 

 to the works of Charles Downing and P. Barry, of New 

 York ; of F. R. Elliott, of Ohio, and Wm. N. White, of 

 Georgia ; and to Hoveys Magazine, the Gardeners 

 Monthly, the Horticulturist, and Album de Pomologie, for 

 descriptions of new or rare varieties. The author is also 

 specially indebted to Marshall P. Wilder, of Boston, 

 President of the American Pomological Society ; to 

 Charles Downing, of Newburgh ; and to Ellwanger and 

 Barry, of Rochester, for much valuable information 

 received in various ways. 



