VI PREi ACE. 



Upon his return to Scotland he began this 

 work. He had made fome progrefs in it, 

 when he was feized with a fevere illnefs, which 

 entirely interrupted his labours, and which 

 ultimately proved fatal in the fpring following. 



Having been requefted by Mr Conftable to 

 complete the undertaking, I carefully examined 

 the notes and references left by the deceafed ; 

 and I had the mortification to find, that how- 

 ever ufeful and important they might and 

 would have been to himfelf, they were in 

 many cafes ufelefs to any one elfe. My tafk, 

 therefore, proved much more ferious than I 

 had anticipated. 



I enjoyed, indeed, fome advantages. Mr 

 Nicol was a near and an efteemed relation : I 

 had lived in habits of the greateft intimacy 

 with him ; and was perfectly well acquainted 

 with his profeffional opinions and practice. 



Still, however, fo much remained undone, 

 that, had -not the fubjecls treated of been fa- 

 miliar to myfelf, I fhould have declined inter- 

 fering. v But, having been perfonally engaged 

 from my earlSeft days in raifmg trees from 

 feeds in the nurfery, and attending the plant- 

 ing, pruning, and future management of them 

 in the foreft and other fituations, I felt fome 



degree 



