18 INTRODUCTION. 



Stuarts. In the first half of the eighteenth century, Mil- 

 ler, Switzer, and others, labored with success in improving 

 the operations, and unfolding the principles of the art; 

 and these were succeeded by Abercrombie, Speechly, and 

 a host of writers, who added greatly to our stores of know- 

 ledge. In 1805 was established the Horticultural Society 

 of London, which was followed, in 1809, by the institution 

 of the Caledonian Horticultural Society at Edinburgh; 

 and in their train have sprung up a multitude of provin- 

 cial gardening societies, all of which have given an impulse 

 to the public mind, and stimulated the exertions of indi- 

 viduals. Experimental gardens have been formed, in which, 

 amongst other things, the important task of distinguishing 

 and classifying the numerous varieties of our hardy fruits 

 has been zealously prosecuted. The mass of information 

 now collected is very great, and the labor expended in its 

 diffusion unwearied. Judging from the literature of the 

 day, and passing downwards from the sumptuous Transac- 

 tions of the Metropolitan Society, through the numerous 

 periodicals, to the penny information for the people, we 

 shall scarcely find any art, however nationally important, 

 which receives more attention, or on which the liberality 

 of the wealthy is more abundantly bestowed. The public 

 nursery-gardens, too, both at London and elsewhere, es- 

 tablishments intimately connected with our subject, and 

 which, in a manufacturing nation, are not the least wonder- 

 ful amongst the applications of skill and capital, prove the 

 extent and perfection to which gardening has advanced. 

 Although, however, there is not, perhaps, in the annals of 

 invention, a chapter of higher interest than the history of 

 Horticulture, the limits prescribed to us do not permit us 

 to enter farther into details : we must, therefore, refer to 

 the late eminent Mr. London's .Encyclopcedia of Garden- 



