PREFACE. 
In writing the preface to a book it is usual for its author 
to state what gave rise to the work, or to indicate its 
supposed superiority to the works in circulation on the 
same or on similar subjects. In the present case, it may 
suffice to state that, during the last forty years, while the 
author successfully established and conducted the Forres 
Nurseries, he has written numerous papers on arboricul- 
tural subjects, for which the Highland and Agricultural 
Society of Scotland has awarded prizes. 
The articles on the timber trees adapted to the climate 
of Great Britain published in that excellent work The 
Agricultural Cyclopedia (by Morton), were also furnished 
by the author, as well as papers from time to time on the 
same subject to the leading periodicals of the day; and as 
far back as 1838, Loudon, in his preface to the greatest 
work that has yet appeared on the subject, “ ARBORETUM 
ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM,” acknowledges his obliga- 
tions to the author for important communications respect- 
ing that useful tree, “ the Scotch Pine in Scotland.” 
These publications have, for a long period, given rise to 
numerous applications by friends and customers of the 
author for copies of his writings on Arboriculture, which, 
from their publication in detached portions at various 
