INTRODUCTION. ix 



from others ; but this would have been an 

 imposition too often practised, but which is, 

 to say the least of it; very unfair. And with- 

 out pretending that all that is herein detailed 

 is original, or exclusively his own, he can 

 aflSrm, that such as it is, if duly attended to, 

 may be depended upon as main-chance practice^ 

 leading to no disappointment. 



He might have also added to the bulk of 

 his book, by relating all he knew of the many 

 leading characters as gardeners and nursery- 

 men, who flourished in the last century — con- 

 temporaries of his earlier days. This might 

 have been interesting to some few readers ; 

 but as such matters are not immediately con- 

 nected with the main purpose of the work, 

 they have been suppressed ; except a few 

 anecdotes which the Writer could not well 

 withhold, connected as they are either with 

 the fruit described, Avith some rule of practice 

 enjoined, or as examples of successful exertion 



