PREFACE, 



to procure every thing likely to prove useful or interesting ; 

 and from the individual correspondents of the Society in 

 various parts of Europe, as well as in more remote countries, 

 articles of the greatest interest and rarity are frequently 

 received. Indeed there is scarcely any portion of the civilized 

 world in which there is not some one labouring with good will 

 to promote the interests of the Society. 



The Library of the Society has been considerably increased, 

 since its state was adverted to in the Preface to the fourth 

 volume. Many valuable and curious works on botanical and 

 horticultural subjects, some the gifts of individuals, and 

 others purchased, have been added ; and the whole is now 

 assuming that form which may entitle it to the character of 

 a complete library of reference. Its importance is obvious 

 from the daily use which is made of it by the Fellows of the 

 Society, and by strangers, who are permitted to have access 

 to it. The collection of Drawings has now become of consi- 

 derable magnitude ; and abounds in valuable specimens of 

 works of art connected with the objects of the Society. The 

 collection of models in wax, of fruits grown in Great Britain, 

 has also been so much enlarged as to justify the hope, that an 

 arrangement of them may soon be effected, which will render 

 them highly useful in promoting the knowledge of the dif- 

 ferent characters of our cultivated fruits. 



The Garden of the Society, which has been established at 

 Chiswick, is now in such a state as to enable the public to 

 judge of the nature of its arrangements. The collections of 

 fruit trees, and of hardy trees or shrubs, which it contains, 

 may be pronounced the most complete that have ever been 

 made in this or any other country ; and, although much 



