PREFACE. XXxi 



ing to tlie order in which I am in the habit of con- 

 sulting them, which has arisen from long practice, 

 those which I have found most useful naturally of- 

 fering themselves first to my attention. By their be- 

 ing generally in the same order, the reader will know 

 where to look for each. Ray's Synopsis is necessarily 

 in an English Flora, regularly quoted throughout; 

 as likewise is much of Gerarde's Herbal by John- 

 son ; and the noble wooden cuts of Matthiolus, pub- 

 lished by Valgrisius at Venice. But the bulk of the 

 old herbalists, whether English or foreign, have been 

 used merely for occasional reference, when they 

 seemed likely to be serviceable, or when their figures 

 appeared peculiarly good. 



In the indexes I have spared neither time nor la- 

 bour. An author may fail in judgment or know- 

 ledge, and for this fallibility he is entitled to indul- 

 gence ; but an index requires nothing more than 

 such a degree of care and attention as his readers 

 have a right, on their part, to expect from him. 



If those who take my various publications for their 

 botanical guides, have half the pleasure in using 

 these books, that I have had in composing them, I 

 need scarcely wish them more. Innocent amuse- 

 ment, inducing a change of ideas, is wholesome for 

 the mind, like air and exercise for the body. On 

 this ground alone Botany may well be recommended ; 

 nor shall I repeat here those higher views of its im- 

 portance as a science, which may be found in the 

 preface to my Introduction, or in my pamphlets on 

 the subject of the Cambridge Botanical Professor- 

 ship. On those occasions it was necessary to ex- 

 plain, to the uninformed, the aims and pretensions 



