P R E F A C K. 



original produilion of more temperate climates, flourifliing in 

 our open air. 



As a good nm-feryman can fooneft and rnoft effedually pro- 

 ■cm^e us fuch effential advantages and pleafures, I cannot help 

 thinking him, for thefe and many other reafons, juftly intitled to 

 be ranked in the higheft clafs of gardeners ; but I am afraid this 

 is only the cafe with the few of found judgment, and extended 

 genius, — and that with the general, the unthinking, and con- 

 tradled part, a man who can ralfe an early cucumber, or melon, 

 is in much higher eftimation, tho', in all the various parts of the 

 profefiion, nothing is more plain and fimple, than thefe operati- 

 ons with the affiftance they have of glafles and dung : To which 

 may be added, that the fubjedt of kitchen-gardening is much 

 more exhaufted than the culture of trees, from being more ge- 

 nerally praclifed, as more eafily undertaken. The returns of 

 profit from nurfery are tedious, and to proceed in it to any con- 

 fiderable degree, a man muft be wealthy, as he muft long be 

 out of his money ; but the returns from the other being annual, 

 the ftock required for it finall in comparifon, and the luxury of 

 the prefent times having raifed the price both of early and late 

 vegetables very high, it becomes a more tempting bait for the 

 bulk of mankind ; whence good nurferymen, or good nurferies, 

 are not fo frequently to be found as could be wifhed. 



Notwithstanding the importance of a good nurfery-gar- 

 dener to his country, and the general efteem in which fuch have 

 formerly been held, that profeflion has lately fallen into much 

 contempt, and, in fome refpe(5ts, for jufl caufes. From the fuc- 

 cefs of a few fenfible judicious men in it, various impoftor^ 



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