PLANTS 



A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY 



PREFATORY NOTE 



Although Plant Relations and Plant Structures have 

 been prepared as independent volumes, chiefly to meet the 

 needs of those schools which can give but one half year to 

 Botany, they form together a natural introduction to the 

 science. With this in view, the simple title Plants seems 

 suitable, with the understanding that this volume is an 

 introduction to the study of plants. 



Either part of this combined volume may be used first, 

 according to the views or needs of the teacher. In many 

 cases it may be wise not to observe the order of the book, 

 but to organize laboratory work as seems best, and to assign 

 the appropriate readings wherever they may occur in the 

 volume. The author is a stickler for independent teaching, 

 and would not presume to prescribe an order or a method 

 for teachers. His purpose is simply to offer those facts and 

 suggestions which may be helpful to them in organizing 

 and presenting their work. He would urge that intelligent 

 contact with plants is the essential thing; that a clear 

 understanding of a few large facts is better than the collec- 

 tion of numerous small ones ; and that " getting through " 

 should never sacrifice the leisure needed for digestion. 



The two parts of this work are indexed separately, and 

 references to indexes are to be made at the end of each part. 



Johx M. Coulter. 



The University of Chicago, November, 1899. 



