PREFACE. 



THE object of this work is to furnish a description of 

 the plants of which it treats, adapted to the present 

 state of botanical science. ' In accordance with this de- 

 sign, I have followed the natural method of arrange- 

 ment, which has already received the sanction of the 

 best botanists of Europe, and cannot fail of being adopt- 

 ed by those of our own country. For the purpose of con- 

 tributing in some degree to the accomplishment of this 

 desirable result, I have given, as shortly as possible, the 

 characters of the Natural Orders, which are arranged 

 according to the method of Jussieu Us modified by De 

 Candolle. In this part of the work, I have con- 

 sulted with great advantage; the article BOTANY in 

 the new edition, of the Encyclopaedia Britannica ; 

 and indeed, I have, with few exceptions, adopted the 

 arrangement and characters of the orders there given. 

 Of the article -in question, I regret that I have as yet 

 been unable to ascertain the name of the author, but it 

 bears throughout the impress of one who is thoroughly 

 versed in the subject of which it treats. I should also 

 mention, that I have derived much assistance from Prof. 

 Lindley's Introduction to the Natural System. 



. With regard to the Genera, some alterations, and as it 

 is conceived, improvements, will' be observed by the bot- 

 anist. These consist, generally, in the adoption of the 

 views of De Candolle and 'others, who have made the 

 natural system a particular study. As some of the Lin- 

 nsean genera are thus divided-, and others remodelled, it 

 may fprm a ground of objection on the part of those 

 who have not tluly considered the subject. But it 

 should be remembered, that Botany is a progressive 

 science ; and it would be strange indeed if the labors 

 of botanists, since the time of- Linnaeus, should not have 

 resulted in a more correct knowledge of plants, and 



