PREFACE. 



FIFTEEN years ago I published a Manual of Fruits, 

 which at the time included most of the varieties found 

 in nurseries and private gardens. This being favour- 

 ably received, the whole impression was sold within a 

 twelvemonth, and I was repeatedly urged to prepare a 

 new edition. 



About that time numerous new varieties of fruits 

 were introduced to British gardens, and it was there- 

 fore necessary that their merits should be fairly tested 

 before a new edition could be published of a work pro- 

 fessing to furnish information respecting the fruits and 

 fruit trees commonly cultivated in this country. 



During the interval that has elapsed I have examined 

 the greater number of the new, and many of the older 

 varieties not formerly included, and I am now enabled 

 to present a work more complete and useful than I could 

 have done had I entered upon it at an earlier period. 



In the present volume I have not attempted to enu- 

 merate all the varieties of fruits known to exist in the 

 country, but to describe those only which either are in 

 cultivation, or are worthy of being cultivated for their 

 superior merits. In some instances there are sorts 

 mentioned, not because of their excellence, but because 



