2 SKETCH OF THE RISE ^LECT. I. 



Whilst I acknowledge the propriety of this 

 custom, I must at the same time observe, that, 

 in following it, I do not intend to enter minutely 

 into the history of the science we are about to 

 investigate, but, tracing merely a sketch of the 

 rise and progress of Botany, rather to excite your 

 esteem for it by a display of its utility. 



Botany derives its name from Borai//?, a Greek 

 word which signifies an herb. It is that branch 

 of Natural History which concerns vegetables ; 

 which teaches the knowledge of their structure, 

 habits, and properties ; and to distinguish differ- 

 ent plants from each other *. That part of the 

 science which treats of the structure, habits, and 

 properties of plants, is particularly distinguished 

 by the term PHYTOLOGY ; that which refers to the 

 classification of plants by their exterior characters, 

 so that one species may be readily distinguished 

 from another, is denominated SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 

 The knowledge of both of these parts is requisite 

 to constitute a true Botanist. But it is further 

 my intention, in this Course of Lectures, to enter 

 upon a third branch, particularly interesting to 

 those who desire to become acquainted with the 

 economical and medicinal uses of plants; as it 

 refers to their poisonous properties, and the ac- 



f Botamce est scientia naturalis, quac Vegetabilium cog- 

 " nitionem tradit." LINN^US, Phil. Bot. Introduce 4. 



