XVI PREFACE. 



even an apology. If such intolerable words are to be used, they 

 should surely be reserved for plants as repulsive as themselves, 

 and instead of libelling races so fair as flowers, or noble as trees, 

 they ought to be confined to Slimes, Mildews, Blights, and Toad- 

 stools. The Author has been anxious to do something towards 

 alleviating this grievous evil, which at least need not be permitted 

 to eat into the healthy form of Botany clothed in the English 

 language. 



No one who has had experience in the progress of Botany, as a 

 science, can doubt that it has been more impeded in this country 

 by the repulsive appearance of the names which it employs than 

 by any other cause whatever ; and that, in fact, this circumstance 

 has proved an invincible obstacle to its becoming the serious 

 occupation of those who are unacquainted with the learned lan- 

 guages, or who, being acquainted with them, are fastidious about 

 euphony, and Greek or Latin purity. So strongly has the Author 

 become impressed with the truth of this \iew, that on several 

 occasions he has endeavoured to substitute English names for the 

 Latin or Greek compounds by which the genera of plants are 

 distinguished. Upon turning over the late ^volumes of the Bo- 

 tanical Register many such instances will be found, in imitation 

 of the well-known and usual English words, Houndstongue, 

 Loosestrife, Bugloss, Soap wort. Harebell, &c. He cannot, how- 

 ever, boast of any success in these feeble attempts at reforming 

 a great evil; nor, perhaps, ought he to have expected it. If 

 such English names are not universally adopted, it is to be sus- 

 pected that the circumstance is traceable to the indifference of the 

 public to partial and inconsiderable changes, which are unseen in 

 the ocean of Botanical nomenclature. That they are important 

 must be admitted; that the person most careless as to the difficul- 

 ties of articulation would prefer to sj)eak of a Fringe-Myrtle rather 

 than of a Chamselaucium, or of a Gritberry than of a Comaros- 

 taphyhs, will probably be allowed on aU hands; and therefore the 

 Author does not confess discouragement at failure; but would 

 rather invite suggestions as to more probable means of suc- 

 cess. Mere translation is neither necessary nor desirable in all 

 cases. Many Latin names have, from custom, been adopted 

 into the English language, and no wisdom would be shown in 

 attempting to alter such words as Dahlia, Crocus, Ixia, or even 

 Orchis. Others again are so easily sounded, and so much in 

 harmony with the English tongue, that nothing could be gained 



