PREFACE. 



xiii 



prefent fubjed, I will neither applaud a friend, nor detra(5l from 

 an enemy, without juft grounds, but tell my undifguifed fenti- 

 ments upon it to the beft of my knowledge,: — and fliali venture to 

 predict, that whoever fleadily adheres to the practice of thofe who 

 have been mentioned as examples, will, in fome degree, partake 

 of their good fortune. 



The pra(5lice I have here advifed is plain, andeafily executed, 

 nor can I believe any man of refletflion will doubt of its fuccefs : 

 But how unlucky would fome of our late fanguine undertakers 

 be, who having endeavoured, at confiderable expence, to merit 

 the favour of the Public, by the redu(£lion of prices, the preven- 

 tion of impofition from others, and the extirpation of all garde- 

 ners who oppofe their publicrfpirited plans, ^ — how lamentable in- 

 deed, if, after all thefe worthy attempts, which they have pub- 

 lifhed in fo modeft and affedling a manner, their thanklefa 

 country fliould negledl beftowing on them either an increafe of 

 reputation or wealth !; 



To ftop the fall ihcreaflng evil of nurferymen (or thofe who 

 call themfelves fo) felling bad plants, to the general difcourage- 

 ment of improvements, would fhow a truly public fpirit ; but 

 I am afraid no private obfervations or communications, how- 

 ever jvifl and well meant, will anfwer the end deiired, particu- 

 larly from one of the profefTion ; and that, to eifedluate the cure, 

 (than which I conceive nothing more eafy), the Public muft be 

 the phyfician. 



Every body knows the general and amazingly good effedls of 

 t^e premiums given by the Coixnniffioners and Truflees for 



