PREFACE. : Vil 
e 
which are natives of warmer climates, and which, by being packed 
in boxes filled up with fresh sand, may be transported with perfect 
safety. 3 ) ite sei ance 
: With all his Botanic correspondents the Proprietor solicits a 
frequent intercourse, and requests from them every information 
respecting new discoveries and the diversified interests of the 
Botanist and the Horticulturalist. Every such favour will be cheer- 
fully reciprocated; and as activity is the very essence of improve- 
ment, and of the dissemination of knowledge, such intercourse will 
be conducted with that promptitude and despatch which charac- 
terize the general transactions of the establishment. PRIN 
- It, therefore, may confidently be hoped, that ere long our country 
will possess. a Botanic Collection, at least equal to many of those 
which have received the patronage of the governments of Europe; 
and it is but reasonable that an empire, extending from the Atlantic 
to the Pacific Ocean, and embracing in its latitudinal dimensions: 
every climate of the earth, and whose Flora, no doubt, co-extensive 
with its variety of climes and soils, must form a very large division 
of the vegetable kingdom, should possess a Botanic Collection 
superior to those of the diminutive countries of Europe, and which 
should concentrate at least all the plants indigenous to our own: 
and it jolie perhaps to be regretted, that the munificence of our- 
government. has not been directed to the accomplishment of such 
an object, by the establishment of a National Botanic Institution, 
founded on this principle at the city of Washington, both its: 
climate and situation being peculiarly favourable to such an under- 
taking. | ? | 
In many countries a system of national economy is pursued, by 
planting the sides of public roads, turnpikes, and canals, with fruit 
er timber trees—and when the many advantages of shelter, suste- 
nance, &c. which these afford to the traveller and others are con- 
sidered, it seems an object worthy of miture consideration, and 
in which we might profit by following the examples of older 
countries. : 
To such persons as desire Fruit Trees, &c. and are not themselves. 
acquainted with the qualities of the different kinds, it is recom- 
mended that they specify in their orders the number of trees wanted 
of each species of fruit, and leave the selection to the Proprietor; 
and in such cases they may rely that only those will be sent which 
are of the most approved kinds, and where desired, those that will 
ripen in succession. 
Persons who may wish to make selections of American Apple Trees, 
to send to foreign countries, will find those which are natives de- 
signated by an asterisk ; and if they desire it, the Proprietor will | 
make selections of such varieties of other fruits as are of American 
origin, and suitable to send to Europe or elsewhere. 
‘It is requested that those who in sending orders mention only 
the numbers by which the trees, &c. are enumerated in the Cata- 
logue, should be particular to state the edition from which they 
make their selection—as there is some numerical variation in the 
different editions, which for the future will not be the case. 
