PREFACE. 



W h e n the Society completed the Second Volume of their 

 Transactions in March 1818, arrangements were made to 

 insure, if possible, the publication of portions of the suc- 

 ceeding Volumes, at less distant periods than had hitherto 

 been done. They flattered themselves with the hope of be- 

 ing able to complete a Volume, every second year, by the 

 publication of one-fourth part at intervals of six months; and 

 it is very satisfactory that, so far, that hope has been realised. 

 The Third Volume is now submitted to the Public, the con- 

 tents of which, they trust, will prove that no efforts have been 

 spared to render it literally the Transactions of a Horticul- 

 tural Society, the most scrupulous attention having been paid 

 to avoid encroachments upon the province of the scientific 

 Botanist, and to confine their views to subjects immediately 

 connected with the respective departments of useful and 

 ornamental gardening. 



One of the objects which has particularly engaged the at- 

 tention of the Society has been the formation of an Experi- 

 mental Garden. What they have yet been able to accomplish 

 in this respect, they consider only as temporary ; but it has 

 been sufficient to prove that they have not over-rated the 



vol. in. a 



