XXIV 



P R E F A C E. 



il die mofL valuable book on the fubjecPc ever appeared. His jufl 

 crxcomiums on the pleafures .-^nd advantages arinng from weli- 

 cuklvated plantations, if attentively read by young men of edu- 

 cation and fortune, mull animate all but the moft taftelefs and 

 dull to the purfuits of Gardening ; , and fome of his chapters to 

 that purpofe, ought to be recorded in capital letters of gold, and 

 Imng up in the dining-rooms of ail rich men who love their coun- 

 try, or mean to give the mod ftriking example of true patriotifm 

 to tlie prefent and fucceeding generations. 



I A M far from the vanity of believing, that many juft reflexions 

 may not be thrown out againft the following Treatife. Tho' I 

 have had much experience in the culture of trees, I have none 

 from writing in fo public a manner ; and my moft fanguine 

 expedlations will be accomplilhed, if an abler pen will improve 

 and extend my hints in a more mafterly way, — to whom I fliall 

 be happy to communicate any farther obfervations I am capable 

 of making. . - 



From fliowing my manufcript, (which I have often done with- 

 out ceremony), and fome of the contents tranfpiring, I am already 

 fcnfible of having enemies amongft fome of the nurferymen. I 

 cannot help it, having done but my duty. I wijfh none of them 

 ill, and defire them, for their own fakes only, to refiedl, that till 

 they refute my arguments, their enmity to me will but the more 

 expofe themfelves : — I fliould be ungrateful at the fame time, if 

 I meant that to be underftood of the profeffion in general, as I 

 have the pleafure to believe, it is not the greater part of them, 

 or thofe moft formidable, for knowledge at leaft, that are fo ilj 

 inclined. 



