XXll PREFACE TO THE 



prevent from taking place. The more minute 

 the investigation may be, it will in the result, as 

 in the abov^e instance, be the more satisfactory 

 to me. 



I think it but respectful to my Readers, and a 

 justice to myself, to declare, that the Contents of 

 the Jbllowi?ig Work are solely the result of my own 

 practice and ejcperiment * ; every single remark 

 having been minuted down at the moment of its oc- 

 curring, and only retained afterwards on my ascer- 

 taining, by due proof, that it was well founded and 

 accurate. Of books I have never availed myself, 

 farther than as they might tend to assist in perfect- 

 ing my Catalogues of Fruits : for at a time when I 

 did once begin to read with a view to the improve- 

 ment of my practice, I soon found myself more 

 bewildered than instructed, and have never since 

 resumed the task. 



To conclude : After acknowledging with the 

 deepest sensations of gratitude, the candour and 

 kindness of a generous Public, I shall, from this 

 moment, cease to notice any similar attacks from 

 Mr. Knight, or any other quarter : contenting my- 

 self with opposing, to the ungenerous, unjust, and 

 unprovoked charges of an individual, a few only 

 of the voluntary testimonies of Gentlemen of dis- 



* With the exception only of some remarks on the common 

 mode of grafting, which I have avowedly taken from Miller, 

 for the purpose of shewing how it is improved. 



