PEEFACE TO FIRST EDITION. 



IN common with most gardeners similarly situated, I 

 am often applied to, by amateurs and others interested 

 in vine-culture, for advice and instructions on various 

 points connected therewith; and much of the substance 

 of this Treatise has been sent, at different times and in 

 detached portions, in reply to such applications ; and 

 I may add that, in preparing it for publication in its 

 present shape, I am but yielding to the urgent requests 

 of not a few of those who profess to have reaped useful 

 instruction from my private communications on the 

 subject of which it treats. 



I have endeavoured as much as I could to avoid 

 technicalities, and to be as brief as possible, consistent 

 with making the subject in hand clear; and I have 

 resisted the temptation of being led into lengthened 

 physiological explanations of the facts I deal with. 

 All I recommend I have in my own practice proved 

 to be correct, and can do it with confidence. 



WM. THOMSON. 

 August 1862. 



SECOND EDITION published September 1862. 

 THIRD EDITION published April 1863. 

 FOURTH EDITION published January 1865. 



