[ii] 
with much advantage; and the high rents which are given for 
young and healthy orchards, in every part of England, suflficiently 
prove the value of their produce. 
But the success and profits of the planter depend almost wholly 
upon the proper choice of varieties of fruit, and the selection of 
these will generally prove a task of much difficulty: for our no¬ 
menclature of fruits, of almost every species, is so imperfect and 
confused, that two or more varieties are generally confounded 
under one name, and the same variety is as frequently known 
under many different names: experience appears also to have suffi¬ 
ciently proved that each variety is fit for culture during a limited 
period only, after it has first sprung from seed; and therefore the 
sources of error, in the selection of proper fruits, are exceedingly 
numerous. 
With a view to prevent the losses and inconveniences which have 
arisen from the preceding causes, and from the rapid decay of every 
old variety of the apple sind pear, the Agricultural Society of 
Herefordshire proposed the publication of coloured Plates of those 
old varieties to which their county has been indebted for its fame, 
and also of a few new varieties, which have been introduced under 
their patronage, and are believed to be not inferior to the old. 
Written descriptions have proved generally sufficient to enable the 
botanist to distinguish one original species of plants from another; 
but coloured Plates alone are capable of poin ting out those slight 
discriminations of character, which often distinguish one variety of 
fruit from another, of any given species. 
The decay of every variety of the apple and pear, which has 
been long cultivated, is now very generally admitted; and there¬ 
fore a more particular account, than has hitherto been given, of the 
means by which the most valuable new varieties have been obtained, 
may probably not be unacceptable to the possessor of the Pomona 
Herefordiensis, particularly if he be no botanist. Preparatory to 
r 
