IMPERFECTION OF FRUIT CULTURE. 3 



enable any one to be his " own gardener," and 

 be thus liberated from a degrading dependence 

 on the caprice of unskilled men. 



To his brethren, the clergy, scattered in vil- 

 lages, and thus necessarily somewhat dependent 

 on the limited resources which these can supply, 

 it seemed to him a grateful task to state his own 

 experience, and if he shall be able in any degree 

 to simplify the practice of fruit culture, and 

 thus save a portion of their invaluable time, his 

 own labour will certainly not have been thrown 

 away. 



There is no doubt that fruit culture is, as yet, 

 very imperfectly understood, even by scientific 

 men. Great advances are, however, being made 

 daily in this interesting branch, and it is certain 

 that few things tend more to further this pro- 

 gress, than a simple and honest description of 

 experience. Every one can thus greatly judge 

 for himself; and, by comparing his own obser- 

 vations with the notes made by others, who are 

 not more skilful, but who have more leisure, he 

 may reach a certain standard, which must be of 

 immense value in practice. It is difficult to 

 account for the reticence observed in these 

 matters, and this is, doubtless, one great reason 

 why we do not advance as we should. 



At the same time it is absolutely necessary to 

 be cautious in drawing conclusions from isolated 

 facts. There are many concurrent circumstances 



B 2 



