2 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



have tended to diffuse a taste for botanical pursuits. Their 

 works at least could not be overlooked. Original descriptions 

 have occasionally been furnished, and various particulars rela- 

 tive to the uses of plants added, by the compiler, who is sorry 

 that he has not here to record any assistance derived from his 

 botanical friends, although to one gentleman he is indebted for 

 many valuable suggestions respecting the general plan of the 

 work. Excepting the Ferns, the Cryptogamic Plants have been 

 omitted, as too difficult for the Student, until he has rendered 

 the more attractive species familiar. Several species generally 

 admitted as native, but upon insufficient evidence, have also 

 been omitted. Although the compiler cannot boast of so cri- 

 tical a knowledge of Botany as of some other departments of 

 Natural History, he is yet sufficiently aware of the difficulties 

 which the Student of that science has to encounter, and has 

 been deeply impressed with the importance of precise charac- 

 ters and pure language in every science. It is therefore con- 

 fidently hoped that the work will prove useful ; and should the 

 author have contributed in any considerable degree to facilitate 

 the progress of beginners in the delightful study of Botany, he 

 will be grateful to Him who has permitted such a use of the 

 faculties bestowed upon him. It were alike unnecessary and 

 useless to say any thing here in recommendation of the science 

 of plants : unnecessary, because its fascinations have been ex- 

 tensively felt and useless, because they who may peruse this 

 work, if they do not love Nature for her own sake, will hardly 

 be persuaded to love her for any thing that another might iay 

 in her praise. 



W. MACGILLIVRAV. 

 Edinburgh, June 9, 1830. 



