6 PREFACE. 



by gradual stages, telling the reader one thing at 

 a time, and building up by degrees his knowledge 

 of the subject. My treatment is, therefore, to 

 some extent diagrammatic, especially in the ear- 

 lier chapters; but I endeavour as I proceed to 

 correct the generalisations and fill in the gaps of 

 the first crude statement. I trust that advanced 

 students who may glance at this little book will 

 forgive me for such concessions to the weaker 

 brethren, especially when they see that at the 

 same time I have ventured to lay before untech- 

 nical readers all the latest results of the most 

 advanced botanical research, as far as could be 

 done in so small a compass. I have even made 

 bold to speak at times of "carbonic acid," where 

 I ought strictly to have said " carbon dioxide," 

 and to glide gently over the distinction between 

 hydro-carbons and carbo-hydrates, which could 

 interest none but chemical students. I have been 

 well content to make these trivial sacrifices of 

 formal accuracy in order to find room for fuller 

 exposition of the delightful relations between 

 flowers and insects, birds and fruits, soil and 

 plant, climate and foliage. In one word, I have 

 dwelt more on the functions and habits of plants 

 than on their structure and classification. At the 

 same time I have tried to lead on my reader by 

 gradual stages to the further study of plants in 

 the concrete; and I shall be disappointed if my 

 little book does not induce a considerable pro- 

 portion of those into whose hands it may fall to 

 pursue the subject further in our fields and woods 

 by the aid of a Flora. 



G. A. 

 The Croft, Hindhead, 



