TRANSLATORS' PREFACE. 



In producing an English translation of the Comparative Anatomy of the 

 Phanerogams and Ferns, by Professor De Bary, an attempt has been made to 

 meet two requirements, which have long been felt. In the first place, those 

 English students who do not read German will now gain access to the most 

 exhaustive work hitherto published on that subject. Though, through unavoidable 

 circumstances, a considerable interval has elapsed between the publication of the 

 original and that of the translation, the book deals so largely with established 

 facts, and in so much less a degree with matters of controversy, that the delay 

 affects its value but little. The Translators have however inserted references to 

 the more important memoirs published since the original was produced. 



In the second place, by means of this translation it is hoped that suitable 

 English equivalents will have been supplied for numerous technical terms which 

 have not hitherto been translated. Thus, in that part of the book which deals 

 with the arrangement of the vascular bundles (pp. 232-315), the introduction 

 of new English terms has been especially necessary, since this part of the science 

 has not hitherto been treated at length in any English text-book. 



In conclusion, the Translators wish to record their thanks to Mr. W. T. 

 Thiselton Dyer, Assistant Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, and to Dr. S. H. 

 Vines, Fellow and Lecturer of Christ's College, Cambridge, for valuable advice 

 and assistance ; also to Mr. W. B. Hemsley, for the good judgment and care 

 with which he has prepared the index. 



April 22, 1884. 



