vi PREFACE 



third, its acceptance as an entrance subject by some of 

 the leading colleges. There is thus arising an unprece- 

 dented demand for a teaching that shall be more exten- 

 sive, more thorough, and more representative of the 

 present state of the science. But so rapid is the ad- 

 vance in the science itself, as well as in methods of 

 teaching it, that only specialists with the best oppor- 

 tunities are able to keep pace with their progress, and 

 others are placed at a great disadvantage, no matter 

 how great their desire to improve their teaching or 

 their eagerness to utilize the latest and best knowledge. 

 It is for teachers of such progressive spirit, and in the 

 effort to bring together the best that is at present known 

 about the teaching of elementary courses in the science 

 of Botany, that this book has been written and made as 

 nearly as possible monographic in its character. That 

 it may meet the rising demand for guidance in the 

 teaching of Botany in its more modern and approved 

 aspects, and even serve in some measure as a stimulus 

 to yet greater advancement, is the aim and wish of its 

 author. 



The elementary course recommended and outlined in 

 this book, while it seems to me the one best suited to 

 conditions now prevailing and likely to prevail for a 

 long time to come, is certainly very far from final. It 

 contains many topics that belong in the lower grades, 

 topics which are already there in some schools and 

 will soon be placed there in others. But in the present 

 confused state of botanical teaching in the schools, it 

 is unsafe to assume in any general course that any 

 particular subjects have already been studied by the 

 students ; and the only logical plan is to start the 

 course from the beginning, and then make special allow- 



