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PREFACE. 



The Sixth Volume of the Gardener's Magazine will be found 

 equal to any that has preceded it, in the higher branches of pro- 

 fessional information ; and as it contains a complete system of 

 cottage gardening, with some highly improved plans of cottage 

 dwellings, it surpasses, in point of general utility, all that have 

 gone before. 



Something has been said lately by a learned author, Sir Henry 

 Steuart, in his Planter s Guide, of the ignorance of gardeners 

 generally : but that they are, as a body, well informed, in both 

 the theory and practice of their profession, and very well able to 

 communicate their information to others, the manner in which 

 this Magazine is supported by their contributions is a decided 

 proof. Gardeners may certainly be considered, in common with 

 others of the laborious classes of society, ignorant of classical 

 learning ; but this is a species of knowledge of exceedingly little 

 use, and is gradually becoming neglected in all countries, in pro- 

 portion as the inhabitants advance in civilisation. We have above 

 alluded to the Essays on Cottage Gardening (Articles III. IV. and 

 V., p. 167. to 208.), written in competition for certain prizes 

 which we offered and have awarded. These essays are composed 

 by gardeners who have had scarcely any education beyond what 

 they have given themselves; and the essays published are only 

 three out of ten, which were all nearly equally well written. We 

 might refer to many other articles in this Volume as proofs of 

 the general intelligence of gardeners; but, having mentioned these 

 essays, we will limit our remarks to them, and ask any man, how- 

 ever learned or scientific he may be, whether any thing can be 

 more complete and systematic of its kind than the fourth of these 

 essays? We by no means intend to flatter gardeners, so as to 

 render them content with the knowledge which they already pos- 

 sess ; we only wish to stimulate them to make every exertion to 

 raise themselves to the highest possible grade in their profession. 

 We must also be allowed to say, that the more our acquaintance 

 with gardeners is increased, in consequence of conducting this 

 Magazine and the Magazine of Natural History, the more we are 



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