PREFACE 
Twenty Years, in rapid succession, have now passed 
away, since we opened our Botanic Garden to public 
patronage. Month after month has parterre after parterre 
blossomed forth in verdure and gaity — the elements, in 
their rudest mood, never ruffling a blossom. Friends, too, 
have been unchangeable in their support, and involved us 
in a debt of gratitude, of which we have been but too hap- 
py to render some tangible acknowledgement. Thrice 
have we given some triffling mark of such feeling, by the 
addition of Leaves and many Plants; and although con- 
scious we are of the many imperfections of the whole, still 
we have a ray of hope that some assistance has been ren- 
dered our readers in their doing that which is now-a-days 
indispensable — keeping pace with the rapidly advancing 
knowledge of the times. 
We have said that the Botanic Garden has yielded 
Flowers, even under favourable auspices; Fruit is a natu- 
ral consequence, of Flowers, therefore every Number will 
henceforth bear to our friends a specimen of some favourite 
Fruit. Our anxious wdsh is that to every one of them 
this may prove an acceptable present. 
