2 INTRODUCTION. [part r. 



of barbarous sounds, and will convey no ideas 

 to the mind. Half the interest of new green- 

 house plants is thus destroyed, as few of them 

 have English names, and strangers will soon 

 cease to make any inquiries respecting them 

 w^hen they find they can obtain no answers that 

 they can understand. Now, a very slight know- 

 ledge of botany will take away this mortifying 

 feeling ; and the name of a new plant, and the 

 ascertaining the order to which it belongs, will 

 recall a variety of recollections that will open up 

 a new source of interest and enjoyment even in 

 such interesting and enjoyable things as flowers 

 — for we never can enjoy thoroughly anything 

 that we do not understand. 



It now only remains for me to say why I have 

 divided my work into two parts. My reason is 

 my belief that a student will always remember 

 more easily a few strongly marked divisions than 

 a number of smaller ones, the differences between 

 which are only faintly perceptible. In a more 

 advanced state of knowledge, it is delightful to 

 trace the minute shades of difference by which 

 the numerous orders are united, so as to form 

 one great whole ; but these gentle gradations 

 confuse a beginner. On this account I have 

 thought it best to devote the first part of my 

 work to a few of the more important orders, 

 which differ most widely from each other, and 



