PLAN OF THE WORK.

THE present edition of Miller's Gardener's Dictionary has been planned and prepared with the express purpose of making it an easily accessible, readily consulted, and complete book of reference, on all subjects connected with rural economy; to country gentlemen, gardeners, planters, farmers, and all who take an interest in the soil and its produce. For this purpose it will contain, not only full and accurate accounts of all cultivated plants, and of the modes of their culture, according to the best practical experience, but also of all those collateral branches of natural or of general science, which bear upon the grand subjects of cultivation, and are necessary parts of the instruction of a successful cultivator. In order that readers may turn at once to the information which they seek, the whole will be arranged in strict alphabetical order; and while the connexion will be preserved, every article will be complete in itself. The principal departments will be the following:

GARDENING AND AGRICULTURE.

The practical details will embrace the subjects of gardening and agriculture in all their departments, useful and ornamental, the old as well as the newest modes of management, all of which, as far as possible, will be brought to the two important though independent tests of experience and of science. The scientific details, will be derived from the best ascertained facts in vegetable physiology and chemistry, more particularly the recent discoveries of the continental botanists; while the practical information will, in almost every instance, be derived from, or tested by the experience of the writer of the article.

PLANTING.

The earlier editions of this work have always been considered the best authority upon planting, and, with a very few exceptions, they still are so. The most important of these exceptions is the novel mode, founded upon science, of transplanting large trees, as introduced by Sir Henry Steuart, Bart., and now extensively practised in landscape gardening. This, and all other improvements, will be given with as much fulness as possible.

VEGETABLE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.

This, though of so much importance, was but briefly treated in the previous editions, and indeed could not well be otherwise, from the paucity of facts, and the vagueness of the then existing

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theories. We shall avail ourselves of every accurate discovery, domestic or foreign, which has been made on this branch of the subject; and we trust that with this and the original communications of our own contributors, we shall be enabled to render this important branch both interesting and instructive.

BOTANY.

As it is our intention, conformably to the plan of the original edition, to enumerate all the known genera of plants, and the greater number of the species, we shall give the botanical descriptions in smaller type, in order, since it is so very extensive, that it may not take up the space to be devoted to practical matters. Cryptogamic plants, being often important in practical investigations, such as the smut and the red-rust of corn, will be carefully described; while in all the descriptions, plainer language, and fewer technical terms, will be employed than is usual in botanical works.

METEOROLOGY AND THE WEATHER.

Those subjects, which are of great interest to every cultivator, were included in several of the early editions of Miller, but they have been rather unaccountably omitted in the more recent ones edited by Martyn and Don. In this one they shall be restored with every improvement that science and experience can impart.

INSECTS AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE ANIMALS.

No subject is less understood among practical men than the depredations of insects, so universally and erroneously ascribed to some mysterious and non-existent thing termed a blight. This important subject will be fully investigated and explained, from facts easy to be ascertained, which will lead the cultivator to adopt rational modes of prevention.

DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

It is intended that this department shall comprehend the natural history and the best modes of management of all the animals kept for utility or pleasure, whether these be quadrupeds, birds, fishes, or insects. The nature and modes of treatment of these will be pointed out, upon the principle of their value and susceptibility of improvement, as subjects of rural economy.

DAIRY FARMING AND GRAZING.

These interesting subjects will be amply detailed by practical contributors of science and experience; and the processes of butter-making and cheese-making, as based upon the principles of chemistry, will be explained.

DISORDERS OF ANIMALS.

Our work would be imperfect without a full account of the disorders which so often attack domestic animals, with the most effectual remedies for each. We have secured most able assistance in this department, so as to give a very complete though concise view of Farriery and Veterinary practice.

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RURAL STATISTICS.

The various agricultural reports of the Counties composing the Empire are so voluminous as to be out of the reach of the greater number of purchasers, while many of them are now old, and partly obsolete. We shall make every exertion to obtain the latest and most accurate information for this portion of our work, collected, in all possible cases, upon the spot; and here we earnestly solicit communications from resident gentlemen who take an interest in their several localities.

RURAL ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING.

We do not intend under these heads to give treatises on Architecture and Engineering, but we deem it indispensable in a work like this to notice such structures and operations as are connected with Gardening, Agriculture, or Planting, from the apiary, the arbour, and the dovecot, to the conservatory, the farm offices, and the farm house; from the draining of a garden to the digging of a fish pond, or the embankment of a river.

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY OPERATIONS.

Under the name of each month we shall detail the chief rural operations which fall to be performed- -a mode of instruction which has been popular and approved of from the time of Evelyn.

To ensure sound practical and scientific information, the several departments have been intrusted to writers of known ability and experience, who are requested to revise such articles in the original as are valuable, adding all modern improvements; to furnish new articles not contemplated in Miller's plan; and, as the work is intended for practical men more than for the learned, to write in as plain a style, and use as few technical or Latinised words, as may be practicable.

The following list of well-known contributors, to which daily additions are making, is respectfully submitted to country gentlemen, gardeners, and farmers, as no inconsiderable guarantee for the character of the articles.

Contributors.

THE HON. AND REV. W. HERBERT, D.C.L.
Author of "Botanical Arrangement of Bulbous Roots," and
of numerous Papers in the " Horticultural Transactions,"
&c. &c.

SIR W. JARDINE, BART., F.R.S.E. F.L.S.
Editor of the "Naturalist's Library," &c. &c.
SIR. H. STEUART, BART., L.L.D., F.R.S.E.
Author of the "Planter's Guide."
WILLIAM AITON, Esq.

Hamilton, Lanarkshire. Author of " Agricultural Report of
Ayrshire," "Dairy Husbandry," &c.

J. WALKER ARNOTT, Esq., F.L.S.

EDWARD BEVAN, M.D.
Author of the "Honey Bee," &c.

THOMAS CASTLE, M.D., F.L.S.
Trinity College, Cambridge.