X PREFACE TO NINETEENTH EDITION. 



into summer, autumn, and winter sorts. Although the pe- 

 riods of ripening vary several weeks in different parts of the 

 country, these divisions of time will be sufficiently exact for 

 general purposes. 



The distinguishing characteristics of this work are the fol- 

 lowing: i. The arrangement of the chapters. 2. The syste- 

 matic classification of most of the large fruits, and more espe- 

 cially of the apples and pears. 3. The condensed descriptions 

 of fruits, which have been mostly taken from the ripened spe- 

 cimens. 4. The copious illustrations of the various operations. 



The reader will understand the comprehensive character of 

 the " Descriptive List and Index" by referring to the note at 

 its head. 



JOHN J. THOMAS. 



