INTRODUCTION. XI 



as Common Sisymbrium, Cabbage Brassica, Common 

 Cerast (Cerastium), Purple Astragal (Astragalus), 

 Yellow Oxytrope (Oxytropis), &c. It is difficult to 

 see any advantage in this plan, for, even if we could 

 overcome our repugnance to such a wholesale inno- 

 vation, these spurious names are as difficult to 

 remember as the proper scientific ones, and are not 

 nearly so serviceable. 



I have no doubt that names are more readily 

 remembered when there is some meaning attached 

 to them, but with a little perseverance they may be 

 learnt even without the advantages of a classical 

 education or the assistance of this book; indeed, 

 many foreign plants are called by their native 

 names, with a Greek or Latin termination. These 

 may or may not have known meanings, but, when they 

 have, these meanings are known only to very few. 



We have an illustration of the ease with which 

 botanical names may be acquired, in the success 

 that has followed the labours of the working-men 

 botanists of Lancashire and the adjoining counties. 

 Mr. Grindon* has given an interesting account of 

 them ; and he tells us that *^ the study of botany by 

 the operatives about Manchester, at least in a precise 

 and methodical manner, appears to date from the 

 establishment of the Linnean system." ****«« The 

 business of the meetings was to compare the floras 

 of the several neighbourhoods, and to exchange 

 plants and information in general on subjects 



* ♦ Mancliester Walks and Wild Flowers.' 



