Preface xi 



particular objects, are seldom capable of being applied, with- 

 out much modification, to individual gardens. 



With regard to the style and manner of the work, the 

 author confesses some little fear lest it should be deemed too 

 elaborate or dogmatical. The first of these faults, if it have 

 any palpable existence, has originated in the wish to render 

 the matter as expressive, as dense, and as serviceable as 

 possible. It is mainly due to the aim at obtaining brevity 

 and force, without omitting anything. And on so compre- 

 hensive a theme it is hardly surprising that the matter should 

 have accumulated to an extent by no means originally con- 

 templated, so that the object indicated by the title may even 

 seem to be unduly departed from. This will, however, be 

 more than justified by the fiact that there are yet a great 

 many things, not without interest or importance, unavoidably 

 omitted. 



For the second defect, which appears more manifest and 

 serious, a similar excuse may in part be alleged, with the 

 additional plea that practical information can hardly be made 

 altogether suggestive, and must, to some extent, become dog- 

 matical, unless it be conveyed in a very circuitous form. At 

 any rate, it is hoped that this will be considered simply as a 

 fault of manner, and not as indicating a positive or presump- 

 tuous disposition, which is utterly foreign to the author's 

 purpose. 



With these frank admissions he now submits his httle 

 volume to the test of public opinion, assured that, whatever 

 may be its fate, it will be judged by the substance of what 

 it contains, and not by the mere accidents of manner and 

 composition. 



EDWARD KEMP. 



Birkenhead Park, Liverpool. 



