Tumbledown Farm .9 Acres (give or take an acre or two)

Preface.

Though embracing all the directions neces­sary for the successful management of a Vege­table Garden, the present volume is offered to the public as a manual, or guide, to assist in the selection of varieties rather than as a treatise on cultivation. Through the standard works of American authors, as well as by means of the numerous agricultural and horticultural periodicals of our time, all information of im­portance relative to the various methods of propagation and culture, now in general prac­tice, can be readily obtained.

But, with regard to the characteristics which distinguish the numerous varieties; their dif­ference in size, form, color, quality, and season

vi PREFACE.
of perfection; their hardiness, productiveness, and comparative value for cultivation,--these details, a knowledge of which is important as well to the experienced cultivator as to the beginner, have heretofore been obtained only through sources scattered and fragmentary.

To supply this deficiency in horticultural lit­erature, I have endeavored, in the following pages, to give full descriptions of the vegetables common to the gardens of this country. It is not, however, presumed that the list is com­plete, as many varieties, perhaps of much excel­lence, are comparatively local: never having been described, they are, of course, little known. Neither is the expectation indulged that all the descriptions will be found perfect; though much allowance must be made in this respect for the influence of soil, locality, and climate, as well as for the difference in taste of different indi­viduals.

Much time, labor, and expense have been
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devoted to secure accuracy of names and syn­onymes,--the seeds of nearly all of the prom­inent varieties having been imported both from England and France, and planted, in connection with American vegetables of the same name, with reference to this object alone.

The delay and patience required in the prep­aration of a work like the present may be in some degree appreciated from the fact, that in order to obtain some comparatively unimportant particular with regard to the foliage, flower, fruit, or seed, of some obscure and almost un­known plant, it has been found necessary to import the seed or root; to plant, to till, to watch, and wait an entire season.

Though some vegetables have been included which have proved of little value either for the table or for agricultural purposes, still it is believed such descriptions will be found by no means unimportant; as a timely knowledge of that which is inferior, or absolutely worthless,

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is often as advantageous as a knowledge of that which is of positive superiority. That the volume may be acceptable to the agriculturist, seedsman, and to all who may possess, cultivate, or find pleasure in, a garden, is the sincere wish of the author.

F. B., JR.
HINGHAM, February, 1865.