SIK jOSKl'H DAI/rON HOOKER, 



K.C.S.I., IM'.K.S., D.C.I.., LI..1)., tTC, 



Foniicrly Dircclor of the Koyal (.ianh'its, A'cw. 



Dkak Sir Josi'.ph II^okkk, — 



In convcrsiilion with you I have often been im- 

 pressed liy your conviction of the importance of intlucinjj youny 

 people to observe the elementary ficts of botany, and I have heard 

 you express your admiration of the efforts made in this direction, in 

 an earlier generation, by that distinguished botanist, I'rof. Ilenslow. 

 \'ou have assured me of your sense of the value of independent 

 observations made by young students, for themselves, in the simplest 

 and clearest language. 



By your own example the stuilies of beginners have often been 

 led in this direction, but in this little book, which I have ventured 

 to jiroduce, and of which you have kindly accepted the dedication, 

 I have not attempted to compete with e\en your least ambitious 

 Mights. 



-Ml I have endeavoureil to do is to prepare the minds of young 

 people for the study of fxjtany by explaining in the sinijilesl 

 language some of the elementary phenomena of plant-life. Il 

 is an humble experiment, but made, as I believe, on lines which 

 are novel so far as they go, and essentially practical. 



If, as is loo likely to be the case, I have fallen into any technical 

 errors, your good nature must not be held responsible for my fault. 

 believe nie to be, 



\'ours very sincerely, 



ELIZA BKKIIITWKX. 



,///77, 1897. 



