Vlll 
PREFACE. 
serve a place in future editions. To the kindness of pcraoic* 
gists in various sections of the country I must trust for the 
detection of errors in the present volume, and for information of 
really valuable new varieties.* 
Of the descriptions of fruit, some explanation may be neces- 
sary. First, is given the standard name in capitals, fol- 
lowed by the authorities — that is, the names of authors w r ho 
have previously given an account of it by this title. Below 
this are placed, in smaller type, the various synonymes , or lo- 
cal names, by which the same fruit is known in various coun- 
tries or parts of the country. Thus, on page 429, is the fol- 
lowing : 
Flemish Beauty. Lind. Thomp. 
Belle de Flandres. I Poire Davy. 
Bosch ISTouvelle. | Imperatrice de Franco. 
Bosch. I Fondant Du Bois. 
Bose Sire. j Boschpeer. 
Beurre Spence ( erroneously ). 
By this is signified, first, that Flemish Beauty is the 
standard name of the pe^r ; secondly, that it has been previ- 
ously describe.d by Lindley and Thompson ; thirdly, that the 
others — synonymes — are various local names by which the 
Flemish Beauty is also known in various places ; and, lastly, that 
by the latter name — Beurre Spence — it is incorrectly known 
in some collections, this name belonging to another distinct 
pear. 
It is at once apparent that one of the chief points of value of a 
book like this, lies in the accuracy with which these synonymous 
names are given — since a person might, in looking over different 
catalogues issued here and abroad, suppose that all ten of the 
above are different varieties — when they are really all different 
names for a single pear. In this record of synonymes, I have 
therefore availed myself of the valuable experience of the Lon- 
* It is well to remark that many of the so-called new varieties, especially 
from the West, prove to be old and well-known kinds, slightly altered in 
appearance by new soil and different climate. A new variety must possess 
very superior qualities to entitle it to regard, now that we have so many 
fine fruits in our collections. 
