with much advantage; and the high rents which are given for 

 young and healthy orchards, in every part of England, sufficiently 

 prove the value of their produce. 



But the success and profits of the planter depend almost wholly 

 upon the proper choice of varieties of fruit, and the selection of 

 these will generally prove a task of much difficulty: for our no- 

 menclature of fruits, of almost every species, is so imperfect and 

 confused, that two or more varieties are generally confounded 

 under one name, and the same variety is as frequently known 

 under many different names : experience appears also to have suffi- 

 ciently proved that each variety is fit for culture during a limited 

 period only, after it has first sprung from seed ; and therefore the 

 sources of error, in the selection of proper fruits, are exceedingly 

 numerous. 



With a view to prevent the losses and inconveniences which have 

 arisen from the preceding causes, and from the rapid decay of every 

 old variety of the apple and pear, the Agricultural Society of 

 Herefordshire proposed the publication of coloured Plates of those 

 old varieties to which their county has been indebted for its fame, 

 and also of a few new varieties, which have been introduced under 

 their patronage, and are believed to be not inferior to the old. 

 Written descriptions have proved generally sufficient to enable the 

 botanist to distinguish one original species of plants from another; 

 but coloured Plates alone are capable of pointing out those slight 

 discriminations of character, which often distinguish one variety of 

 fruit from another, of any given species. 



The decay of every variety of the apple and pear, which has 

 been long cultivated, is now very generally admitted ; and there- 

 fore a more particular account, than has hitherto been given, of the 

 means by which the most valuable new varieties have been obtained, 

 may probably not be unacceptable to the possessor of the Pomona 

 Hereford iensis, particularly if he be no botanist. Preparatory to 



