xii The Author's Preface. 



acknowledged; but my estimate of their importance for 

 its advance would differ materially at the present moment 

 from that contained in my History of Botany. At the 

 same time I rejoice in being able to say that I may some- 

 times have overrated the merits of distinguished men, but 

 have never knowingly underestimated them. 



DR. J. VON SACHS, 



Foreign Fellow of the Royal Society. 

 WURZBURG, March 24, 1889. 



NOTE BY THE TRANSLATOR. 



No History of Botany in English has ever been 

 published, and it is to supply in some measure this want, 

 long felt by English-speaking students, that this trans- 

 lation of Professor Sachs' masterly sketch has been pre- 

 pared. 



H. E. F. G. 



