INTRODUCTION. 



CHAPTER I. 



AIDS TO THE STUDY OF BOTANY. 



1. The proper season for the commencement ol the st.idy 

 of Botany in schools, is late in winter, at the opening of the- first 

 session after New-Year's. The class will thus be prepared be- 

 forehand, by a degree of acquaintance with first principles, for 

 the analysis of the earliest Spring-flowers the Blood-root, Liv- 

 erwort, Spring-beauty, Sweet Mayflower, Erigenla, and the Vio- 

 lets. We have arranged the topics of the present treatise with 

 a special view to the convenience of the learner in this respect, 

 beginning with that which is the first requisite in analysis the 

 Flower. 



2. Specimens of leaves, stems, roots, fruit, flowers, etc., in unlimited supply are re- 

 quisite during the whole course. In the absence of the living, let the dried specimens of 

 the herbarium be consulted. Crayon sketches upon the blackboard, if truthful, are always 

 good for displaying minute or obscure forms. In the city, classes in Botany may employ, 

 at small expense, a collector to supply them daily with fresh specimens from the country. 

 Moreover, the gardens and conservatories will furnish to such, an abundant supply of cul- 

 tivated species for study and analysis, with almost equal advantage, since the present 

 work embraces, together with the native flora, all exotics which are in any degree com- 

 mon in cultivation. 



3. An Herbarium (Latin, hortus siccus, or h. s.) is a col- 

 lection of botanic specimens, artificially dried, protected in 

 papers, and systematically arranged. Herbaria are useful in 

 many ways ; (a) for preserving the knowledge of rare, or 

 inaccessible, or lost species ; (b) for exchanges, enabling one to 

 possess the flora of other countries ; (c) for refreshing one's 

 memory of early scenes and studies ; (d) for aiding in more 



