25 



Prompted by the same feelings which actuated the 

 Society, relative to the collection and cultivation of 

 fruits for the sake of comparison, in order to ascer- 

 tain which were really the best, the author has been 

 for many years employed ; and although he has not 

 had the boundless resources and means of trial as 

 have been at the command of the Society, yet the 

 results of his own experience (comprising a much 

 longer period than that of the Society) have been 

 such as induce him, without vanity, to think that 

 the publication of his experimental and practical 

 knowledge respecting fruits may be at least a useful 

 auxiliary to the publications, direct or indirect, which 

 have issued from the Society. In this light only he 

 wishes what he has written may be considered ; and 

 he shall feel very great satisfaction indeed, if his 

 practical knowledge thus elicited may be any way 

 instrumental in advancing the culture of those fruits, 

 which are destined for the regalement of the rich, 

 and so easily obtainable for the comfort and refresh- 

 ment of the poor. 



Respecting the size of apples, the author thinks 

 three distinctions are all that is necessary; viz. small, 

 example the golden pippin ; middling, example the 

 nonsuch ; and large, such as the Dutch codlin. 

 The shape is not so material, and is certainly super- 

 fluous, if the fruit be rightly named, especially if 

 described in geometrical and botanical terras. The 

 following catalogue will comprise nearly one hundred 

 and fifty of the most esteemed sorts, all familiarly 

 described, with practical observations on their cul- 

 ture, value, history, &c. ; specifying the purposes 



