4 PROSERPINA. 



flowers in May and June, — but you are not told 

 when, in its native country. 



The four lines of the last clause but one, may 

 indeed be useful to gardeners ; but — although I 

 know my good father and mother did the best 

 they could for me in buying this beautiful book ; 

 and though the admirable plates of it did their work, 

 and taught me much, I cannot wonder that neither 

 my infantine nor boyish mind was irresistibly 

 attracted by the text, of which this page is one 

 of the most favourable specimens ; nor, in conse- 

 quence, that my botanical studies were — when I 

 had attained the age of fifty — no farther advanced 

 than the reader will find them in the opening 

 chapter of this book. 



Which said book was therefore undertaken, to 

 put, if it might be, some elements of the science 

 of botany into a form more tenable by ordinary 

 human and childish faculties ; or — for I can 

 scarcely say I have yet any tenure of it myself — 

 to make the paths of approach to it more pleasant. 

 In fact, I only know, of it, the pleasant distant 

 effects, which it bears to simple eyes ; and some 

 pretty mists and mysteries, which I invite my 

 young readers to pierce, as they may, for them- 

 selves, — my power of guiding them being only for 

 a little way. 



