PREFACE. 



I AM apprehenfive this treatlfe will 

 meet with the fate of many others; 

 that is, of being defpifed by fome 

 readers : for which reafon, I think it ne- 

 ceflary to make an apology, which, I 

 hope, will obtain for It a more favourable 

 reception than it might otherwife meet 

 with. 



And let me excufe myfelf to my Bro^ 

 ther-Gardeneis, thofe who are well ac- 

 quainted with the nature of Fruit-trees, 

 left they fhould think me like that cele- 

 brated prize-fighter who was always ready 

 to take up a weapon againft any perfon 

 that durft encounter with him 3 but I do 

 not prefume to a6l in this manner, nor 

 did I write with thefe vain expeclations 

 of being inftru6live to all Gardeners ; and 

 yet, I am hopeful, it will be of fervice to 

 fuch young ones as are defirous to improve 

 themfelves. This publication was occa- 

 fioned and promoted by feveral gentlemen 

 who like to fpend fome time in their gar- 

 dens, and would gladly be enabled to judge 

 if their Fruit-trees are properly pruned, 

 or not ', many of them declared to me that 

 A 2 they 



