PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION, 



In preparing this revised and corrected edition of the " Fruits 

 and Fruit Trees of America," no alteration has been made in 

 the general principles of cultivation and propagation, and but 

 little in the descriptions of those varieties that are retained ; but 

 some, after repeated trial, having proved unworthy of general 

 cultivation, have been reduced and put in a class of inferior 

 sorts ; some of which, however, have advocates, and succeed in 

 particular soils and localities. 



Many new ones of "very good" and "best" quality have 

 been added ; some well proved, and others partially so, requir- 

 ing more time to give their true merits ; some giving promise 

 of excellence, others may prove, when fully tested, but of in- 

 ferior value. 



Something has been done towards ascertaining synonymes 

 and identifying disputed varieties, and great numbers of speci- 

 mens compared from various sources; but it requires much 

 time and long-continued examinations to accomplish even a 

 little by private individuals, where there is so much confusion 

 as now exists. Order and accuracy can only be arrived at 

 when the different varieties are well grown in the same soil 

 and locality, which could only be realized in an experimental 

 garden on a large scale. 



To the many persons in various parts of the country who 

 have kindly furnished notes and specimens of numerous fruits, 

 we tender our acknowledgments. 



In Massachusetts, to John Milton Earl, Samuel Colton, 

 George A. Chamberlain, and George Jacques, Worcester ; J. 

 C. Stone, Shrewsbury ; F. Burr, Hingham ; Asa Clement, 

 Lowell ; Willis P. Sargent, West Araesbury ; 0. V. Hills, 



