VI PREFACE. 



to plant their seed at suitable depths and distances, accord- 

 ing to their nature and dimensions, as an opportunity of 

 raising some of the luxui'ies of the garden being lost for the 

 season, may occasion more anxiety and trouble, than it 

 would cost to acquire a correct knowledge of the art of Gar- 

 dening. 



It is, however, of the utmost importance to a gardener 

 that he obtain such seed as will grow freely, and produce 

 vegetables calculated to suit the market. As I value my 

 reputation above all things upon earth, charity forbids me to 

 believe that any man of standing would wilfully sell bad seed. 

 It is true, tl>at the most careful may at times be deceived, 

 especially in seasons when a full supply of fresh seed can- 

 not be obtained from their regular growers ; but, in general, our 

 established seedsman may be supposed to know the true cha- 

 racter of his stock; and if he studies his interest, he will not 

 knowingly sell an article that is not calculated to do him 

 credit. It must, however, be admitted, that knowledge is as 

 necessary to a seedsman as to a gardener, and therefore the 

 above remarks cannot apply to every storekeeper who may 

 sell seed, because many, being mere agents, do not pretend 

 to know one kind of seed from another ; and from its not 

 being a primary object with them, it cannot be expected 

 that they will take the same interest in the traffic as a regu- 

 lar seedsman, and therefore such agents may not consider 

 their reputation at stake. 



The experience of old and skilful gardeners wdll bear 

 witness to the fact, that failures often occur even with good 

 seed, and with the very best attention on the part of the 

 gardener. It often happens that insects so infest the land, 

 as to devour the seed while sprouting, and before a plant is 

 seen above ground. Sometimes a serious drought succeed- 

 ing a heavy rain will cause seed to perish thiough incrusta- 

 tion of the soil ; and very frequently seed will fail to vegetate 

 in dry soils and seasons, for want of pressure. I was once 

 called upon by a neighbour to examine his garden, in which 



