PREFACE. 



If we were to point out any one improvement in the Ninth 

 Volume, over the previous ones, it would be the several articles 

 upon Fruits. These embrace, with many others, abridged 

 notices of the Third Edition of the London Horticultuial Society's 

 Catalogue of Fruits; and our own articles, describing eighteen 

 varieties, nearly new, as well as the most superior, pears in 

 cultivation. These we may offer as a specimen of what we 

 have in store for our readers, in future volumes. The cultiva- 

 tion of the choicer fruits has rapidly increased within a year or 

 two, and the desire to possess a knowledge of the most esteemed 

 kinds has induced us to devote a good portion of our room to 

 this object. The Tenth Volume will contain many additional 

 engravings, representing a great number of fine pears. 



As particularly interesting to the fruit cultivator, we may 

 mention the paper by Dr. Burnett, on the Curculio. If the 

 method he proposes, to get rid of this depredator on the plum, 

 is not the best, his remarks upon the habits of this insect may 

 be the means of drawing attention to its ravages, and induce 

 individuals to try experiments which may result in the discovery 

 of an efiectual method. The paper of Mr. Crawshay, on grow- 

 ing the Grape, embodied in our article, has attracted much 

 attention in England, and, we believe, equally so among our 

 own professional and amateur cultivators. Its practical effects 

 in our climate remain to be tested; but we trust soon to see 

 an attempt made to grow the grape upon his plan. Although 

 the vicinity of Boston is noted for the great amount of grapes 

 annually raised under glass, yet we are but beginners in the ait, 

 and have much to learn before we can claim a high state of cul- 

 tivation of this delicious fruit. Mr. Camak's two articles on our 

 native Grapes are among the most valuable communications. 



The Tenth Volume of the Magazine will close our first Decade 

 or Series. We then propose several important improvements, 

 of which we shall speak hereafter. Trusting, in the mean time, 

 to the continued aid of our friends and correspondents, we shall 

 aim to render our next volume no less interesting than those 

 which have preceded it. ^ , ^ „ 



Boston, Dec. 1, 1843. 



