vi PREFACE 



PLANTS AND MAN has as one of its aims an appeal to the 

 general interests of the average student, which will enrich his 

 experiences with plants and plant products, and which will give 

 him a sound appreciation of the importance of plants in human 

 affairs. With this in mind, much that is of theoretical importance 

 to botanists and which has little significance in our daily lives, 

 has been omitted. On the other hand, some aspects of plant 

 activities and structures have been dealt with in detail because 

 of their association with products used by man. 



However, PLANTS AND MAN is not merely an economic 

 botany. The study of plants from the viewpoint of man is obvi- 

 ously associated with economic relationships; but an under- 

 standing of the utilization of various parts of the plant body, 

 and of our dependence upon various plant activities, is furthered 

 by a comprehension of anatomical, physiological and taxonomic 

 details of plant life which make these economic uses possible. 

 Also unlike most economic botany approaches, harmful relations 

 of plants with one another and with man are stressed as well as 

 the customary useful ones; this involves a discussion of hetero- 

 trophic plants and plant pathology. 



Nature study is often an aspect of plant life neglected in 

 botany texts. This approach to botanical science, long a part 

 of the curriculum in secondary schools, has been overlooked as 

 a part of college botany courses — even though most students 

 are interested in the out-of-doors and welcome an opportunity 

 to become acquainted with plant personalities in the field. 

 Several chapters on the plant aspects of nature study have been 

 included in the present volume, introducing the student to the 

 fundamental taxonomic approach to identification of common 

 trees, shrubs and flowers both native to the United States and 

 introduced as ornamentals. This makes the text of value to 

 prospective teachers who plan to go into secondary school work. 

 Science has become an integral part of the program from first 

 grade through high school; in the lower grades most of the ele- 

 mentary science has to do with nature study and various botani- 

 cal topics such as plant foods, textiles, uses of wood, etc. A 

 botany course which emphasizes a study of plants in the labora- 

 tory, with microscope and herbarium sheet, offers little help to 



