IV PREFACE 



e 



price, to which reference is made in the text, wherever 

 possible, and of which the eight coloured pictures found in 

 the book, are reduced reproductions. 



I need hardly emphasize that in using this manual as 

 a school-book the plants studied are to be put into the 

 student's hand, and that the types described should, if 

 the climate permits, be planted in a school garden for the 

 continued observation of the various stages of their life. 

 Many of them may, at least in the West Coast of India, be 

 procured in any field, wood, or garden. 



The book does not aim at completeness, which is not 

 required in a school-book. Yet, the natural orders select- 

 ed are systematically grouped and the characters of the 

 various classes and divisions are briefly stated, so as to 

 give the student at once an insight into the classification 

 of the vegetable kingdom 



AJaiigalore, J 908. /. P' 



PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION 



The present httle volume has in its first edition been 

 more favourably received by the public than I ever ex- 

 pected. I ascribe this success more to the growing interest 

 in the subject than to the merits of the book itself. Above 

 all, I beg to offer my sincere thanks to the educational 

 departments in the South and North of India for the kind 

 recognition of my work. 



The printing of a new edition has been taken advant- 

 age of to make some corrections and to introduce new 

 matter, so as to increase the usefulness of the book. If I 

 have erred on the side of excess, I trust my readers will 

 find it easier to eliminate than to insert. 



