viii PREFACE. 



Patrick Keith must have felt when composing the 

 Introduction to his System of Physiological Botany ; 

 or which warmed the breast of Hector St. John, when 

 dedicating his Letters from an American Farmer to 

 the Abbe Raynal. 



With respect to the plates of ow old English 

 gardens, I have only to say that when I published, in 

 1785, Miscellanies on Ancient and Modern Gardening, 

 and on the Scenery of Nature, I formed a plan of pub- 

 lishing views of some secluded, curious old mansions, 



some elder trees of singularly unusual size. About the year 1688, 

 many gardens would then have furnished one with what is now 

 suggested, if we may judge from what Worlidge then wrote : 

 " Neither is there a noble or pleasant seat in England, but hath its 

 gardens for pleasure and delight. So that we may, without vanity, 

 conclude, that a garden of pleasant avenues, walks, fruits, flowers, 

 grots, and other branches springing from it, well composed, is tha 

 only complete and permanent iuanimate object of delight the world 

 affords." 



' 3. A Biography of some early Horticulturists would diffuse 

 much curious matter.' 



' We should be much gratified if Mr. Felton would supply some 

 of the above interesting desiderata himself. Though we have not 

 the advantage of his acquaintance, and do not know his address, 

 we can infer from his communication that few are so capable of 

 instructing and entertaining the curious horticulturist. A 

 biography of Mr. Bates, or any anecdotes respecting him, would 



very acceptable.' 



