viii SEASIDE TREES AND SHRUBS 



planting up under such conditions extremely 

 difficult. 



For several years I was engaged in research 

 work among the hardy cultivated fruits of York- 

 shire, and when visiting those parts of the county 

 bordering upon the sea, for the purposes of obser- 

 vation and collecting information, the great diffi- 

 culties experienced by growers in the cultivation 

 of orchard fruits, owing to the want of the 

 necessary shelter, especially that offered by other 

 trees and shrubs, were prominently brought to 

 my notice. 



Also for some considerable time when, in con- 

 nection with the duties of my calling, I have been 

 engaged in giving lectures and demonstrations in 

 Horticulture, and fulfilling other engagements in 

 these and other districts by the seaside, com- 

 plaints have reached me from farmers, gardeners, 

 villa residents, allotment holders and others, how 

 much farm and garden crops are injured by cold, 

 cutting winds and strong gales from off the sea, 

 at all seasons of the year. 



This induced me to take up the present work, 

 with the hope that it might lead to more extensive 

 planting, as such would prove of incalculable 

 benefit in many ways. 



In these researches I have been greatly assisted 



