P R E F A C E. 



xxili 



No book on Gardening can now be altogether original, from 

 the many great improvements made ; but the fubjccl v/i)l }et 

 admit of very many advances towards the more perfecft know- 

 ledge of it. It is far from my intention to introduce nov'cl 

 doctrine, or to make innovations on the general culture of 

 plants, where I have not found it defe(!^live. But this I have 

 by no means clone : I have, as others ufually do in early life, 

 taken many hints from different authors, and examples f om 

 pra6lical gardeners, tried their elfedts, and, where fuccefsful^ 

 have followed and diredled them : But I have not relied fatis- 

 fied with what may be called bare fuccefs ; I have endeavoured 

 to improve on the beft rules I knew, to aboliih fome others 

 altogether, fubftituting better in their place, and, for the gene- 

 ral fyflem of culture here directed, I am unconfcious of being 

 indebted to any author or other man. That I have many years 

 ago fuceeeded in my own practice by folio vv^ing the fyftem 

 here laid down, I have the moft inconteftible evidence to ad- 

 duce ; but to convince unbelievers at a. diftance, muft be the 

 effedl of trial, which is all I require. In the mean time, I 

 fliall Hften to the voice of the Public with the greateft refpcct 

 and deference, and, as far as in my power, amend whatever 

 errors are juftly pointed at^ 



Having mentioned Mr Evelyn, I muft here exprefs the fen- 

 fible pleafure I feel, from hearing a fine impreffion of his Silva, 

 with notes by fbme Gentlemen of approved learning, and know- 

 ledge of Gardening, is now printing. His obfervations on the 

 culture of young plants in the feed-bed and nurfery, tho' the 

 beft publiflied before or during his time, are hnce then much 

 improved, and they now becom.e the leaft valuable part of his 

 work ; but the additions and remarks on thefe, with the other 

 elTential improvements that will apparently be made,, muft render 



