V O S T S G R I P ■ ' T. 



1/ thcn^ nttenJed ivitb many other agreeable clrciunjlances, a 

 method JJjall he plainly pointed out for ripening our Winter l^rtiits, 

 in all their 'various fituations^ at leaf, three v/esks earlier than 

 they now are, and at the fame time i})ipro-jing them both in fize 

 andfai'our, T muf imagine fich a difcovery ought to-intitle a jnan 

 to the protedion and encouragement of the Public, as the effe5is 

 o.rfing from it niuf be both honourable and prof table to the uuhoh 

 if and of Great Britain. By profecuting this plan, ive /Jjould, 

 to my certain knoivledge, eat at leaf as good fruit at Edinburgh 

 as they no-iv do at London, — a?id, as near as I can judge, much 

 about as good at London as they do at Paris. 



I am uery feiifihle, that to ignorant and illiterate Gardeners 

 this tvill appear a ridiculous, and even to thofe of competent 

 knoivledge and objervation, a fangiiine attempt ; but I can honefly^ 

 and •zvill therefore boLily affir'm, from no f ighter a foundation than 

 having already done fo, that I can not only perform the ntraof 

 circnmfance here advanced, but do it hkevuays by eafy means, 

 and tvitkout any additional expence to the ufual culture vuorth 

 naming. 



The original bent of my genius inclining me to the fudy of Fruits, 

 and my frf Efciys on Gardening being experiments on improving 

 their culture, / have long intended the publication noiv propofed ; 

 hut a had fate of health, hefides the great expence of Plates, &c. 

 that muf neceffarily attend fuch a ivork, and fome other unlucky 

 circumfances, has hitherto prevented me : And noiv I am not forry 

 it Vijas delayed, as the longer I have lived, and during the 

 farther continued courfe of my ohferv ations , I have ever found 

 that kindly luarmth proceeding from the floelter of Forejl-trees, 

 and Hedges, no lefs effential toivards the produclion of generous 



