an early inclination for planting, than for fathers, who have 

 a landed estate, to persuade those children who are to in- 

 herit it, as soon as they come to years of discretion, to make 

 a small nursery, and to let them have the management of it 

 themselves; they will then see the trees yearly thriving under 

 their hands: as an encouragement to them, they should, 

 when the trees are at a fit growth to plant out, let them have 

 the value of them for their pocket money. This will, in their 

 tender years, fix so strong an idea of the value, and the great 

 consequence of planting, as will never be eradicated after- 

 wards; and many youths, of the age of twenty-five, having 

 planted quick growing trees, may see the industry of their 

 juvenile years amply rewarded at that early age, a time when 

 most young men begin to know the value of money."* Mr. 



* Mr. Weston, in his introduction to these Tracts, seems to have pleasure 

 in recording the following anecdote of La Quintinye, from Harte's Essay. 

 " The famous La Quintinie, director of the royal gardens in France, obtained 

 from Louis XIV. an ahbacy for his son, in one of the remote provinces; and 

 going soon afterwards to make the abbot a visit, (who was not then settled 

 in his apartments) he was entertained and lodged by a neighbouring gentle- 

 man with great friendliness and hospitality. La Quintinie, as was natural, 

 soon examined the gardens of his host; he found the situation beautiful, and 

 the soil excellent; but every thing was rude, savage, and neglected: nature 

 had done much, art nothing. The guest, delighted with his friendly recep- 

 tion, took leave with regret, and some months after, sent one of the king's 

 gardeners, and four under-gardeners, to the gentleman, with strict command 

 to accept of no gratuity. They took possession of his little inclosure the 

 moment they arrived, and having digged it many times over, they manured, 

 replanted it, and left one of their number behind them, as a settled servant 

 in the family. This young man was soon solicited to assist the neighbour- 

 hood, and filled their kitchen gardens and fruit gardens with the best produc- 

 tions of every kind, which are preserved and propagated to this very 

 hour." 



It is pleasing to enquire who Mons. de la Quintinye was. Perrault, in 

 his Homines Illustres, has given his Life, and Portrait. Dr. Gibson, in his 

 Fruit Gardener, calls him " truly an original author;" and further pays him 

 high compliments. The 



