SB 

 / 



p. 

 PREFACE. 



MUCH interest has been awakened in the country of recent 

 years in the question of the cultivation of fruit ; and 

 though the statements of some of its advocates are 

 obviously exaggerated, there can be no doubt that if the 

 subject was better understood and the knowledge properly 

 applied, a considerable portion of the trade, of which 

 foreign growers now reap the advantage, might be kept 

 in the hands of the English cultivator. 



The numerous exhibitions and conferences held through* 

 out the country during the last few years have been the 

 means of imparting much useful information, and have 

 stimulated the desire for further knowledge. Several 

 books have also been written on the subject, and varied 

 information given in the horticultural press ; but it is 

 thought that there is still room for the present essentially 

 practical work, the object of which is to place before the 

 readers the details as to the various requirements and 

 modes of operation arranged in convenient form for 

 reference. 



vii 



90G223 



