THE BRITISH WINTER GARDEN: BEING A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON EVERGREENS; SHOWING THEIR GENERAL UTILITY IN THE FORMATION OF GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE SCENERY, AND THEIR MODE OF PROPAGATING, PLANTING, AND REMOVAL AS PRACTISED AT ELVASTON CASTLE. BY WILLIAM BARRON, HEAD GARDENER. LONDON: BRADBURY AND EVANS, 11, BOUVERIE STREET. Landscape 12-28-38 ADDRESS TO THE READER. In these days of book and money-making enterprise, time is, as it ever has been, a most valuable commodity; and no one has a right to make a demand on the time of another, without assigning a sufficient reason for so doing. Believing this to be the case, I conceive that I have no right to make a claim on public attention, without a suitable apology. Book-making has hitherto been no part of my profession, and it may be questionable whether I possess the necessary qualifications. Having through life been a book-worm myself, this much I have learned ; that already there are many more works before the public than are read, or have any justifiable claim to Food for the mind in these luxurious days, like food for the body, is extremely varied; more I be so. suppose to pamper the fastidious palate, than to give health and vigour to the stomach and system generally. Highly garnished and seasoned dishes I leave to others, of different tastes; plain, simple, solid food I find best, and therefore keep to it. Having been nourished somewhat in this way, I have grown up a plain, matter of fact man; and as such, I profess only to lay a few plain, but I trust valuable truths, before that class of readers interested in the subject, and it is pleasing to think that they are on the increase. Planting, useful and ornamental, has been, is, and will become more every day, an object of deep interest: much has been accomplished, and much more remains to be done, which will manifestly appear, the more the attention of a discerning public is drawn to the subject. I have had upwards of twenty years' application to the removal of large trees; the planting and replanting of nearly all the kinds of the most valuable and ornamental which are now the pride of British gardens, and that under advantages which few have had; having been fully encouraged therein by the most noble and liberal-minded employer, possessing in himself |