BOLA N'Y: 
CHAPTER I. 
INTRODUCTION. 
1. Botany is the science which treats of the Vegetable 
Kingdom. It includes the knowledge of the habits, structure, 
and uses of plants, together with their nomenclature and classi- 
fication. 
2. Like its kindred sciences, it is resolved into distinct depart- 
ments, according to the nature of the subjects to which it relates. 
That part which investigates the organic structure of vegetables, 
is called OrcanocrapuHy, corresponding to Anatomy, in the 
science of Zoology. 
3. That part of botany which relates to the phenomena of the 
vital functions of plants, is called VecreTasLte PuysioLocy; in- 
cluding the consideration of their germination, growth, and 
reproduction. It has, therefore, a direct and practical bearing 
upon the labors of husbandry, in the propagation and culture of 
plants, both in the garden and in the field. 
4. Another department, of essential importance, is Gross- 
oLoGy, which relates to the explanation and application of 
botanical terms, whether nouns or adjectives, by which the 
organs of plants, with their numerous modifications, are desig- 
nated. 
5. A fourth department, called Systematic Borany, arises 
from the consideration of plants, in relation to each other, their 
mutual affinities, and their endless diversities, whereby the 
100,000 species, supposed to exist, may be arranged, classified, 
and designated, by distinctive characters and names. ee 
