PREFACE. 



the work, prepared with his own accumulated 

 observations, the advice and suggestions of other 

 competent growers, and the advantage of the 

 several larger, but differently designed, works 

 that had preceded his own. The errors of these 

 last he was to correct, and their faults he was to 

 avoid. The task was by no means an easy one, 

 and would not have been undertaken but for 

 the steady encouragement of many warm friends 

 of pomological science, and the aid of many effi- 

 cient cultivators ; in whose knowledge and can- 

 dor he had steady reason to confide, and for whose 

 kindness he desires, here, to acknowledge his 

 repeated indebtedness. 



That the work is faultless, is not claimed. That 

 it will be found convenient, thorough and accu- 

 I'ate, and just adapted to daily field use, by the 

 Western grower of both large and small fruits, 

 whether professional or amateur, is fully believed 

 by the accomplished author's friend and associate. 



J. W. W. 



Cincinnati, February 15, 1857. 



