PREFACE. 



1. The proper uses of a Preface appear to be, to 

 give the reader information, which may be useful, 

 during the perusal of the work to which it is prefix- 

 ed ; to explain the nature and object of the work ; 

 to point out the method of the arrangement of its 

 several parts ; and, in short, to afford the means of 

 due preparation for the task the reader is entering 

 upon ; w^hich preparation is always a great advan- 

 tage to the author as well as to the reader. 



2. As to the nature of the work, it is, I hope, 

 pretty clearly stated in the Title Page. The object 

 evidently is to cause the art of gardening to be better 

 understood and practised than it now is in America ; 

 and, very few persons will deny, that there is, in this 

 case, plenty of room for improvement. America has 

 soil and climate for surpassing those of England ; 

 and yet she is surprizingly deficient in variety as 

 well as quality of garden products. I am not allu- 

 ding to things of ornament, or appertaining to lux- 

 urious enjoyments ; but, to things that are really 

 useful, and that tend to profit and to the preservation 

 of health, without which latter, life is not worth hav- 

 ing. It is incredible to those, who have not had oc- 

 casion to observe the fact, how large a part of the 

 sustenance of a country-labourer's family, in Eng- 

 land, comes out of his little garden. The labourers 

 of England are distinguished from those of other 

 countries by several striking peculiarities; but, by 

 no one are they so strongly dis anguished as by their 

 fondness of their gardens, and by the diligence, care 

 and taste, which they show in the management of 



