PREFACE. IX 



crimination, which render botany not merely 

 an amusement, a motive for taking air and ex- 

 ercise, or an assistance to many other arts and 

 sciences; but a school for the mental powers, 

 an alluring incitement for the young mind to 

 try its growing strength, and a confirmation of 

 the most enlightened understanding in some 

 of its sublimest most important truths. That 

 every path tending to ends so desirable may be 

 accessible, I have not confined myself to sy- 

 stematical subjects, wide and various as they 

 are, but I have introduced the anatomy and 

 physiology of plants to the botanical student, 

 wishing to combine all these several objects ; 

 so far at least that those who do not cultivate 

 them all, may be sensible of the value of each 

 in itself, and that no disgraceful rivalship or 

 contempt, the offspring of ignorance, may be 

 felt b}^ the pursuers of any to the prejudice of 

 the rest. 



I have treated of physiological and anato- 

 mical subjects in the first place, because a 

 true knowledge of the structure and parts of 

 plants seems necessary to the right under- 

 standing of botanical arrangement ; and I 

 trust the most superficial reader will here find 



