INTRODUCTION. 



xiii 



structor, which was my first essay on these 

 matters, that I am under great obligations to 

 many eminent authors, and more particularly to 

 those friends in the horticultural world who have 

 furnished me privately with invaluable infor- 

 mation on very many important subjects relative 

 to gardening ; at the same time, should I differ 

 from any of my gardening friends, I trust they 

 will not consider it done wilfully to offend, or 

 discourage, but having had such vast opportunities 

 to put anything connected with the subject to the 

 test, I think I should act wrong to flatter any one 

 by stating as authentic in this work anything 

 which has been merely experimental, and which 

 cannot be supported by tried practice, and 

 knowledge derived from a fundamental source. 



My having for some years past been engaged 

 in suggesting alterations, and improvements iij 

 different parts of the country, it has brought 

 me into contact with men of the first abilities as 

 regards gardening pursuits, and has led me to 

 a field for great observation, which greatly 



