INTRODUCTION. 



vii 



syth's mode of pruning might have been very fairly inferred 

 from the abundance and excellence of the fruit, v/ith which 

 every tree in his gardens was loaded, while those in other 

 gardens had but a partial and scanty crop, and that much in- 

 ferior in quality ; but Forsyth has left the merit of no part of 

 his system to be gathered from inference, and, therefore, 

 not content with shewing the effects of his art by the contrast 

 exhibited between his own garden and those of other persons, 

 not content even with this contrast as exhibited between differ- 

 ent trees in his own garden, and standing close to one another, 

 he has most successfully exhibited it between different branches 

 of the same tree. By turning to the chapter on Pears, and by 

 referring to plate 7, you will see the portrait of a Pear-Tree, 

 one branch of which we found pruned in the common way, 

 and the other branches according to the method taught by this 

 book. The fruit on the former we found small, hard, knotted, 

 and tasting almost as bad as the fruit, %vhich, in America, is 

 called the Cloak- Pear ; on the other branches, the fruit was 

 large and clear, and of an excellent flavour. 



To enter into an analysis of the several parts of the work 

 is by no means my intention. Indeed, all I intend, by this in- 

 troduction, is to call 5'our attention to a work, which, I am 

 fuUv persuaded, you will find a most valuable assistant, in your 

 rural pursuits. The detail of my remarks, alterations, and 

 additions, you will find scattered through the several chapters 

 of the book ; but, I cannot, even here, refrain from recom- 

 mending to your particular notice, the directions for planting, 

 restoring, and perpetuating your Apple Orchards ; for preserv- 

 ing your Peach-Trees from those mischievous insects, which 

 now render them so ytry short-lived ; and for the propagating 

 and training of your vines ; on which three important heads, 

 you appear to me to stand in need of the very information that 

 is herein communicated. 



