TO TEACHERS. 



IN offering this book to the public, the Author hopes to have renr 

 dered the first principles of the Science of Botany of easy attainment ; 

 arid that Instructors, in the developement of the work, will find such 

 methodical arrangements, and simple illustrations, as may render it 

 easy for their pupils, and agreeable to themselves. 



The most proper time for commencing botanical studies, seems to 

 be that of the opening of flowers in the spring ; though, should cir- 

 cumstances render it desirable to commence in winter, every assist- 

 ance thought necessary, is offered by engravings, especially by the 

 representations of dissected plants. The arrangement of subjects 

 might be altered in pursuing the study, without the aid of natural 

 flowers. The second part, which treats of the various organs ol 

 plants, the formation of buds, and other subjects connected with vege- 

 table physiology ; \hefourtfi part, which gives the history of science, 

 with the distinctions in the kingdoms of nature, might be studied to 

 advantage, before attending much to the principles of classification, 

 which are mostly illustrated in the first and third parts. 



The Botanical Class in this Institution, has for some years past 

 been composed of about forty pupils.* The method pursued in teach* 

 ing, has been very laborious, as the want of suitable books rendered it 

 necessary for the Author of these Lectures, who has had charge of 

 the class, to devote much time and attention, in gleaning from differ- 

 ent writers, such facts and principles as would illustrate the science, 

 and make it interesting to the pupils. This work contains the sub- 

 stance of what has been thus collected, and the method in which 

 those lacts and principles were illustrated and arranged. A brief 

 view of the manner in which I have proceeded in teaching, may be 

 satisfactory to those about to commence the science. 



On the first meeting of the class, after some explanation as to the 

 nature of the study they are about to commence, each member is 

 presented with a flower for analysis. The flower selected is always 

 a simple one, exhibiting in a conspicuous manner the different oj?- 

 gans of fructification ; the lily and tulip are both very proper for this 

 purpose. The names of the different parts of the flower are then 

 explained, each pupil being directed to dissect and examine her 

 flower as we proceed. After noticing the parts of fructification, the 

 pupils are prepared to understand the principles on which the artifi- 

 cial classes are founded, and to tiace the plant to its proper class, or- 

 der, &c. At each step, they are required to examine their flowers, 

 and to answer simultaneously the questions proposed ; as, how many 

 stamens has your flower? Suppose it lo be a lily, they answer six. 

 They are then told it is of the sixth class. How many pistils ? They 



* The summer term after the publication of the first edition of this work, the 

 number was increased to 70. 



