580 Lindlei/s Guide to the Orchard 



omitted, and that only one or two methods of cultivation of 

 each particular article have been introduced, in preference to 

 " a great number of different plans ; among which the un- 

 skilful reader can never know which to select in preference." 



The introduction, which follows the preface, occupies above 

 20 pages : it is by the editor, and, v^^e will venture to assert, is 

 the most valuable morceau of scientific horticulture which has 

 ever appeared in the English language. In our opinion, it is 

 vk^orth more than all the rest of the book. In the counties 

 the latter will lose much of its usefulness from the want of a 

 sufficient number of synonymes. The editor seems to be 

 aware of this, when he states in the preface that it is " neces- 

 sary to explain why no mention is made of some sorts which 

 are common in particvilar districts. In such cases," he says, 

 "it is to be understood that the variety omitted is considered 

 either so like ^me kind already desci'ibed, as to be undeserving 

 of particular notice, or so little valuable as to be unworthy of 

 cultivation." This does not appear to us by any means a 

 sufficient reason for omitting to mention sorts common in 

 particular districts by the names in use in those districts ; but 

 we can give a reason, and that is, the extreme difficulty of 

 the subject. Between Birmingham and this place (Kilmar- 

 nock) we have found in the articles of gooseberries, apples, 

 and pears, the same names applied to so many different sorts ; 

 and so many different names, many of which are not in the 

 Horticultural Society's Catalogue^ applied to the same sorts; 

 that we do not see hov/ it is possible for any individual to 

 give a hst of synonymes which shall be complete. The work 

 must be left to a central association, like that of the Horticul- 

 tural Society. Having said thus much, we have only to add 

 that we believe Mr. Lindley, sen., to have done as much 

 as could be expected from any individual, and more than 

 most individuals are capable of doing ; and that we con- 

 sider his work a most valuable addition to horticultural 

 literature, and wish that it may find its way into the hands of 

 every nurseryman and master gardener. 



We shall now give the essence of the valuable introduction 

 before mentioned. Horticultural works contain " plenty of 

 rules for action, but very few reasons." The greatest benefit 

 would be bestowed on the gardening world, if all horticultural 

 practices %vere reduced to their first principles; the editor 

 proposes " to sketch out, in regard to the fruit-garden, what 

 he thinks the method should be on which a more competent 

 person would do well to proceed." 



All our garden fruits are but ameliorated varieties of such 

 as are wild. The amelioration has resulted from human skill. 



