Preface. xiii 



" I know many trade catalogues containing vast 

 stores of information on every branch of horticulture, 

 and properly written in a didactic style unsuitable 

 to such a work as mine. And in trying to use a 

 style somewhat popular, I trust what I write does 

 not deserve the character sometimes given to popular 

 science, as a superficial exposition of results by a 

 writer who himself understands them imperfectly, to 

 the intent that his hearers or readers may be able 

 to talk or write about them without understanding- 

 them at all. 



JOHN ADAIK. 



65, LR. MOUNT-STREET, DUBLIN, 

 March, 1878. 



