PREFACE. 
1 HE general utility of horticulture, or the Art of improv- 
ing every kind of soil; of producing a plentiful supply of whole- 
some vegetables and fruits, so necessary to health in all countries, 
especially in warm climates; of cultivating the various plants de- 
signed by infinite goodness, to minister to the comforts of ani- 
mal life, by correcting the divers maladies to which it is subject by 
nature, and still more so, in the human race, by intemperance; of 
raising many articles of luxury and commerce, as well as materials 
for ornamenting the whole face of the country; is too obvious, to 
render any arguments necessary in favour of an attempt to facili- 
tate the general acquisition of that useful branch of knowledge; but 
more especially, in a country which has not yet made that rapid 
progress in Gardening, ornamental planting, and fanciful rural de- 
signs, which might naturally be expected from an intelligent, happy 
and independent people, possessed so universally of landed proper- 
ty, unoppressed by taxation or tithes, and blest with consequent 
comfort and affluence. 
The neglect in these respects is, no doubt, to be attributed to vari- 
ous causes, among the most prominent of which, is the necessity of 
having reference for information on those subjects, to works pub- 
lished in foreign countries, and adapted to climates, by no means 
according with ours, either in the temperature or course of the 
seasons, and in numerous instances, differing materially in modes of 
culture, from those rendered necessary here, by the peculiarities of 
our climates, soils and situations. And however excellent and use- 
ful these works are in the regions to which they are adapted, they 
tend to mislead and disappoint the young American Horticulturist, 
instead of affording him that correct, judicious and suitable instruc- 
tion, the happy result of which would give impulse to his perse- 
verance. 
To obviate this necessity, as much as in my power, and to 
