VI

PREFACE.

The use of the first class of portraits is, to give a palpable idea of the generalmagnitude, form, and character, which different species and varieties assumewhen growing in the same soil and climate, even in so short a period as ten ortwelve years after planting. A slight comparative view of these portraits showsthat the growth of some trees is much more rapid than that of others; and thatwhile the species of some genera when young are comparatively monotonousin their general form, those of the species of other genera of the same age havemarked and characteristic features. Hence the valuable assistance affordedby such portraits in the choice of trees for the purposes of landscape-garden-ing. To solve the problem of ascertaining the species capable of producingany desired effect of wood, or of trees, in a given locality, and in a given time,it is only necessary to turn over the portraits which are contained in the lastfour volumes of this Work, and to select those species, the portraits of whichexhibit trees of such forms and magnitudes as will produce the effect desired.

The second class of portraits represents full-grown trees of the same spe-cies as those of which portraits in their young state are given; and these, forthe greater part, are drawn from trees within ten miles of London, and all,with one or two exceptions, are to one scale. The object in giving theseportraits of full-grown trees is, to show the magnitude and character whichparticular species attain when they arrive at maturity, and to be a guide tothe planter, not only in many particulars having reference to pictorial effect,but also with respect to the uses of trees as productive of timber, shelter,and shade.

These portraits of trees in their young and mature state, which are containedin the last four volumes, together with the engraved botanical specimens, andthe scientific and popular descriptions contained in the four volumes of letter-press, are calculated, as the author thinks, to create that interest in trees andshrubs in those who have not previously paid much attention to the subject,to produce which, as already observed, has been his grand object in under-taking this Work.

In addition to the trees and shrubs which have been ten or twelve years inthe country, and which are purchasable in British nurseries, those of morerecent introduction, which are comparatively scarce, are also described ornoticed; as are some which were introduced at former periods, and have beenlost, and others which are known to botanists, but which have not yet beenintroduced.

Besides notices of new and little known hardy trees and shrubs, or ofsuch as are described by botanists but not yet introduced, some attentionhas been paid throughout the Work to trees and shrubs which, though theywill stand through the winter in mild seasons, without protection in favourablesituations, or with protection in situations and seasons less favourable, in theclimate of London, yet cannot be recommended for general purposes, andare therefore generally described by gardeners as only half-hardy. Thesehalf-hardy species have been noticed, because there is perhaps no scene ina British garden more interesting, than one in which the plants of warm