2 POPULAR FIELD BOTANY. 
to translate or speak it freely ; we know that we must daily 
study some part of the language, and though at first all 
seems confusion, still with perseverance, a few pomts are 
gained, and then a few more, until by degrees a thorough 
knowledge is acquired. This is the case with Botany. The 
classification in that science answers the same purpose as the 
grammar in a language, and neither can be attained without 
these necessary elements being first mastered. 
It is often remarked that Botany is difficult on account of 
the long list of Latin names to be acquired, but these are 
few in number, compared to the words in a dictionary, 
and yet no one would suggest this as an insurmountable 
difficulty in attaining a language. If a science be worth 
learning, it is wise to begin properly, and study the alphabet 
as 1t may be called; and although I have said there is no 
“royal road” to Botany, I have endeavoured to smooth 
the path, and render all as easy and as simple as possible 
in this little treatise on the subject, by using English words 
instead of the technical terms whenever it is practicable. 
No one must expect if Botany be pursued merely as a 
relaxation from more important studies, to be acquainted 
with it in a season. ven learned botanists have been 
pursuing it for years, and if asked, would say they knew 
