IV PREFACE. 



ticular in question, as, perhaps, much which 

 has been written has been to the best of the 

 writer's judgment. But when a person is 

 about to become a fruit grower, (particularly 

 on an extensive scale,) he ought to be cautious 

 how he follows the advice of inexperienced or 

 theoretical persons ; for I have read many 

 works professing to treat on horticultural and 

 gardening subjects, which are more calculated 

 to amuse than enlighten : there is a difference 

 between rules of treatment by which certain 

 effects can be insured, and hereditary customs^ 

 (if I may use the term) by which advantages 

 may accidentally follow ; yet the sticklers, nay 

 almost worshippers, of these latter, will not 

 hesitate to attack the experienced man, be- 

 cause, in one instance out of a hundred, he 

 has -happened to succeed contrary to the 

 advice of the former. 



But the treatment of fruit trees altogether 

 requires k>ng practice and close application ; 

 and I intend in this small treatise to explain 

 so clearly the necessary treatment of fruit 



