PREFACE. 



of a special part of plant-structure, it seemed to me 

 to apply equally to the whole course of descriptive 

 Botany, and to be capable of becoming a most 

 efficient instrument of regular observational train- 

 ing. I accordingly prepared a simplified series of 

 exercises on this plan, and used them to guide some 

 little children in studying the plants of the neigh- 

 borhood; and, had this experiment not been re- 

 garded, by those who witnessed it, as a success, the 

 book embodying these exercises would not now ap- 

 pear. 



The successful experience here referred to, which 

 led to the publication of this book, has now been de- 

 cisively confirmed by the public after a year's trial 

 with it. It has had an extensive sale, has been in- 

 troduced into many schools of all grades, has been 

 much used by private students, and has been ap- 

 proved with a unanimity and earnestness quite un- 

 precedented in the history of school-books based upon 

 new methods of teaching. 



A new edition now appears, with several additional 

 chapters treating of the seed, germination, buds, the 

 aspects of woody plants, etc. The descriptions will 

 here be more full and general, but the plan of de- 

 scribing only the results of actual observations is still 

 adhered to. Questions are asked, but no answers are 



