PREFACE. 



advantages to be derived to Horticulture, from a garden of 

 such description, upon an extensive scale, and of this there 

 are Papers in the present volume which are some evidence ; 

 they, therefore, look forward with confidence to that period 

 when, either by their own increased efforts, or by an aid su- 

 perior to their own, they may effect an establishment, which 

 shall at once become a National school for the propagation 

 of Horticultural knowledge, and a standard of reference for 

 the authenticity of every species of Garden produce. 



That the country duly appreciates the importance of the 

 objects to which the attention of the Society is directed, may 

 be inferred from the very flattering circumstance, that within 

 a period of two years they have considerably more than dou- 

 bled their numbers, and that in this increase they have the 

 satisfaction of enumerating many of the most distinguished 

 names in the kingdom, whether rank, character, or talent be 

 considered. 



In the class of Foreign Members they have to congratulate 

 themselves on having added many persons of the highest 

 consideration for Botanical and Horticultural knowledge, in 

 various parts of the world ; and to the class of Corresponding 

 Members, both at home and abroad, they have made such 

 additions as cannot fail to prove of the highest advantage in 

 promoting the objects which they have in view. This class, 

 as will be seen by a reference to the List of the Society, con- 

 tains many individuals eminent for their scientific attainments, 

 while at the same time a large proportion consists of Practical 

 Gardeners, whose emulation has been excited, and whose 



