xii PREFACE, 



to achieve our objective without shortening the phrases by leaving out some of the words. 

 We intend to cover the characteristics of each variety of tree with a single Latin phrase 

 whose terms often are more precise & appropriate than those of our own language. But we 

 didn't feel that we needed to force our phrases to comply with botanical rules & 

 regulations. So in our discussion we preferred the language of gardeners to that of scholars, 

 using terms with the ordinary meaning given to them by practitioners of the art, & not 

 those with the strict precision used by botanists. 



2°. Besides, the most extensive botanical works fall quite short of including all of 

 the types of fruit trees described in this treatise. So phrases used by the botanists often 

 could apply to several varieties and sometimes even to several species. For example, the 

 phrase Pyrus sativa, fructu Autumnali, suavissimo, in ore liquescente. {Translator's note: 

 cultivated pear, autumn fruit, .... ] INST. Does it describe the butter pear tree any better 

 than several others whose most pleasant and tender fruit ripens in the autumn? Similarly, 

 Primus fructu cerei colons. [Translator's note: plum with ...colored fruit] INST, doesn't 

 describe the Sainte-Catherine better than some other kinds of plums, such as the mirabelle 

 whose fruit is the same color. So we haven't been able to make use of most of the 

 botanists' phrases. 



Some experts would have preferred a new nomenclature. But would that be of any 

 use? It's true that the names of several trees vary from one province to another, but a new 

 nomenclature, 



