EDITOR'S NOTE 



Mr George Wythes, the author of that part of the 

 present volume which deals with vegetable culture, 

 stands among the dozen leaders of his profession. Like 

 most other distinguished practical gardeners, his career 

 has furnished him with a very varied experience. 

 Descended from a Worcestershire yeoman stock, he re- 

 ceived his education at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar 

 School, Worcester. After leaving school, he worked for a 

 time in various large gardens, both private and municipal.. 

 Then Mr Wythes obtained the post of head gardener at 

 Thirlestaine Hall, near Cheltenham ; and obtained his 

 first measure of general horticultural fame. From 

 Cheltenham, he proceeded to Lord Hatherton's seat at 

 Teddesley Park in Staffordshire, afterwards taking over 

 the post of head gardener to the Duke of Northumber- 

 land, about fourteen years ago. To the Duke's gardens 

 at Syon House, Mr Wythes has added much beauty" and 

 fame. Even those who are not familiar with the name 

 of their raiser may have heard of the " Syon House 

 Melon," the " Syon House Prolific Potato," and other 

 similarly named fruits and vegetables. 



As a writer on various branches of gardening, Mr 

 Wythes is well known to all who read contemporary 

 garden literature. For many years he has been a 

 regular contributor to The Gardeners' Chronicle, The 

 Gardeners' Magazine, and The Garden, and an occa- 

 sional contributor to The Field. He is a Member of 

 the Fruit and Vegetable Committee of the Royal 

 Horticultural Society, and was one of the original sixty 

 to whom were allotted the Victoria Gold Medal of 



