PREFACE. 



through the composition and adhering to the outside, like cop- 

 per dust, or rust of iron, and may be easily rubbed off with the 

 hand. This appearance I never could observe on the applica- 

 tion of any other composition ; which confirms my belief that 

 it acts as a strong stimulant. 



When the wounds in fruit trees are so large as not to heal 

 up in the course of a twelvemonth, I renew the composition 

 annually, which, on its application, invigorates the trees, and 

 seems to have the same elFect on them as a top-dressing of dung 

 has on land. 



I have been solicited by some of my friends to add a chap- 

 ter on forcing grapes, peaches, and nectarines ; and to give a 

 description of a house for that purpose ; but as it would swell 

 the book to too great a size, and as the subject is fully treated 

 of by many others, it seems unnecessary to say any thing far- 

 ther here, than just to observe, that the method of pruning and 

 training recommended in this book, is equally applicable to 

 trees in a forcing-house as to those on a natural wall. When 

 vines are trained straight up the rafters of hot-houses, they 

 throw out a few eyes only at top, and all the rest of the branch 

 becomes naked j but when trained in a serpentine manner, they 

 break equally. 



Dwarf peaches and nectarines planted in the pits of forc- 

 ing-houses should be trained horizontally ; in which mode they 

 will produce much more fruit than when they are trained fan- 

 fashion. 



It must be observed, that the directions, &c. in the fol- 

 lowing pages are calculated for the neighbourhood of London; 

 it will, therefore, be necessary to make allowance, in other cli- 

 mates, for the earliness or lateness of their seasons, both with 

 regard to the time of fruit being in perfection, and also for * 

 planting, pruning, &c. 



For the information of those who are not acquainted with 

 practical gardening, the following explanation of what is called 

 heading-down is given. 



