1TIVBBSIT7] 



INTRODUCTION 



CHAPTER I. 



AIDS TO THE STUDY OF BOTANY. 



1. The proper season for the commencement of 

 the study of Botany in schools is late in winter, at 

 the opening of the first Session after New- Year's. The 

 class will thus be prepared beforehand, by a degree of 

 acquaintance with first principles, for the analysis of 

 the earliest Spring-flowers the Blood-root, Liverwort, 

 Spring-beauty, Sweet Mayflower, and the Violets. We 

 have arranged the topics of the present treatise with 

 a special view to the convenience of the learner in 

 this respect, beginning with that which is the first 

 requisite in analysis the Flower. 



2. Specimens of leaves, stems, roots, fruit, flowers, etc., in unlimited sup- 

 ply are requisite during the whole course. In the absence of the living, let 

 the dried specimens of the herbarium be consulted. Crayon sketches upon 

 the blackboard, if truthful, are always good for displaying minute or obscure 

 forms. In the city, classes in Botany may employ, at small expense, a col- 

 lector to supply them daily with fresh specimens from the country. More- 

 over, the gardens and conservatories will furnish to such an abundant supply 

 of cultivated species for study and analysis, with almost equal advantage, 

 since the present work embraces, together with the native flora, all exotics. 



3. An Herbarium (Latin, hortus siccus, or h. s.) is a 

 collection of botanic specimens, artificially dried, pro- 

 tected in papers, and systematically arranged, Eerbor 



