

PREFACE. 



OF the elementary works on Botany to which the student 



finds easy access, the Introduction of Dr. Smith, with the notes 



of the American editor, is justly preferred to every other. It 



comes from the pen of a lively writer, who ranks pre-eminent 



among the botanists of the present day ; and it teaches us, as 



we pursue the path of science, to cull the flowers on the way : 



but it is made " the vehicle for many observations, criticisms, 



and communications," which are uninteresting to most of his 



readers. Its numerous references to expensive English works, 



and to foreign plants, which are alike unknown in this country, 



add rather to the expense than to this excellent Introduction. 



The Principles of Botany, by Professor Willdenow, of Berlin, 



and the Physiological Botany of Mr. Keith, maintain a high rank 



among the elementary works of their kind, but having never 



been republished in this country, they are comparatively rare. 



The author deems it necessary to observe, that many of the 



following pages have been selected from these and other works, 



and that the arrangement which he has pursued is very similar 



to that of Dr. Smith, though several alterations are adopted, 



which it is thought will be regarded as improvements. The 



" Imperfect plants" are arranged in a separate chapter, the 



natural orders of Jussieu are explained, and a general summary 

 1 * 



