iv PREFACE. 



engravings ; and this circumstance, together with the important one of all the specific 

 names being literally translated, will, by giving the meaning of almost all the terms used in 

 botanical description, in a great measure supersede the necessity of a grammar of botany 

 to the young gardener. The literal translation of the specific names may be considered as, 

 to a certain extent, teaching him the Latin language, and the etymologies of the generic 

 names will give him the meaning of a number of Greek words. The species of every 

 genus, where numerous, are subdivided into sections and subsections, which are shortly 

 defined by specific characters ; and so copious are the descriptive particulars after each 

 species, that we will venture to assert that the genus to which any plant .belongs being 

 known, the specific name, in a majority of cases, may be discovered by this Catalogue without 

 the aid of a Species Plantdrum* 



In the popular descriptions of the Natural Orders, the medicinal properties and econo- 

 mical uses are slightly noticed ; and the soil, propagation, and general treatment of the 

 different groups indicated ; so that this part of the work, in our opinion the most valuable 

 collection of botanical facts that has ever been brought into so small a space, may be con- 

 sidered an epitome of the history, uses, and culture of the whole vegetable kingdom. Who- 

 ever has a sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge of plants and of vegetable culture 

 to generalise on these subjects, will find in this Natural Arrangement the rudiments of every 

 thing that can be said or written on botany, gardening, and agriculture. 



Enumerations of those species which are adapted for culture in the open air in Britain, 

 or in corresponding climates, with an estimate of the quantity of ground which each order 

 or tribe would occupy, are given in the Natural Arrangement, with a view to the form- 

 ation of arboretums or botanic flower-gardens ; but, for an explanation of this improvement, 

 and of its value to the practical gardener, we must refer to the body of the work. (p. 491.) 

 The same proportionate enumerations will prove useful in contriving the size of the different 

 drawers, divisions, boxes, volumes, or pages, required for preserving a hortus siccus, or 

 collections of drawings, of engravings, of seeds, or of specimens of woods. 



The Supplement to the Linnean Arrangement (p. 467.) includes all the plants introduced 

 to Britain and figured in English botanical works up to February, 1830; and Supplements 

 in continuation are intended to be printed annually, and sold separately, at a price probably 

 not exceeding 3d. per Supplement. The first Supplement will appear in January next. 

 Every future impression of the body of the work will contain references to all the Supple- 

 ments published, up to the time of taking the impression : this improvement, and a great 

 one it is, can only be effected in a work which is stereotyped ; and it will save much trouble 

 that would otherwise be unavoidable in referring to the Supplements at random. After 

 certain intervals, according to the number of plants yearly introduced, and, probably, never 

 exceeding seven years, the Supplements will be incorporated in the body of the work, the 

 stereotype plates broken up, and entirely new editions produced. What the proprietors 

 may, by this arrangement, have sacrificed in the sale of new editions, they confidently expect 

 to gain by the decided superiority which even this part of its plan will give their Catalogue 

 over every other. 



No further explanation appearing necessary in this Preface, it remains for the Editor to 

 state that the Linnean Arrangement and its Supplement are entirely the work of Mr. GEORGE 

 DON ; the Natural Arrangement is founded on that of Professor LINDLEY, with some 

 additions and alterations rendered necessary by the plan of this Catalogue ; and Dr. GRE- 

 VILLE, the profound cryptogamist, assisted in arranging the Cryptogamia. Those who are 

 acquainted with the present state of botany, and with the botanists of this country, will allow 

 that three gentlemen better adapted for cooperating in producing a Catalogue like that now 

 submitted to the public are not to be found. It is presumed that this Catalogue, numerous, 

 original, and complex as are its details, beyond those of any other book of the kind ever pub- 

 lished in this or any country, exceeds likewise all others in typographical accuracy. For this 

 essential merit the Editor is entirely indebted to the classical and scientific attainments of 

 Mr. ALEXANDER ROWAN, under whose care this work passed through the press. All that the 

 Editor claims for himself is the plan of the work, which he certainly considers much superior 

 to anything that has preceded it. The literal translation of the specific names, the derivations 

 of the generic names, the indications of derivations, and, above all, the general descriptions 

 of the Natural Orders, will, he confidently expects, be found not only of great value in 

 determining the names of plants, and in recognising them at sight, both individually and in 

 masses ; but in assisting the botanical student and practical gardener to acquire some know- 

 ledge of their structure, physiology, analogies, affinities, properties, uses, and culture. 



J. C. L. 



Bayswater, Mai/, 18 SO. 



