PREEACE. Vll 



the end of that month had arrived before we were 

 ready to depart. On account of our avocations 

 at home, the time which we could now dedicate 

 to the business was limited to less than three 

 months ; and we were, from the first, perfectly aware 

 that this was greatly too short. We were obliged, 

 therefore, considerably to restrict the plan of our 

 journey, and also in some degree its objects ; but 

 still the want of sufficient leisure for due examina- 

 tion was repeatedly felt. We visited some of the 

 richest parts of Austrian Flanders, Brabant and 

 Holland; and afterwards proceeded, by Enghien 

 and Tournay, towards Paris. At the French capital 

 we spent some time ; and then returned homeward 

 through Normandy. 



One principal object which we kept in view, was 

 to take notice of any new or uncommon varieties of 

 fruits and culinary vegetables, which it might be de- 

 sirable to introduce into Scotland ; and to establish 

 a correspondence with some of the principal amateur 

 cultivators and professional nurserymen, through 

 whose good offices such acquisitions, by means of cions 

 or of seeds, might afterwards be obtained. This ob- 

 ject, we trust, will be found to have been satisfactori- 

 ly accomplished. We met with the most cordial 

 and friendly reception from such of the distinguished 

 foreign horticulturists as we had occasion to visit ; 

 and we take this opportunity of publicly acknow- 

 ledging their kindness. 



