PREFACE. 



Some apology is due to the Fellows of the Society for the 

 delay in the completion of the present volume of the Trans- 

 actions, which ought to have been terminated in the spring. 

 The severe and continued indisposition of Mr. William 

 Hooker, in whose charge the entire execution of the engrav- 

 ings had always remained, having rendered him incapable of 

 fulfilling his engagements, considerable time elapsed before 

 the necessary arrangements could be made to supply his 

 place. These have now been effected ; and it is hoped, that, 

 in a few months, the arrear in the delivery of the Transac- 

 tions will no longer exist. ^ 



On referring to the contents of the present volume, which 

 has been published in five separate parts, it is satisfactory to 

 observe, not only that the number of contributors of papers 

 has not fallen off, but that the subjects discussed embrace a 

 greater variety of matter interesting to the Horticulturist, 

 than is to be found in any of the preceding volumes. As the 

 Society has risen in public estimation, the communications 

 have increased both in quantity and in value ; and the Council 

 has consequently been enabled to exercise more extensively 

 its power of selection. The embellishments have also kept 

 pace with the other improvements; for it will be obvious 



vol. v. a 



