PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. 



FOR several reasons it has seemed desirable to extend the first 

 edition of this book into a second, and in doing so additions 

 have been made, in some cases with considerable reluctance. 

 Not that the first edition was by any means regarded as com- 

 plete. The book was first written with a view of attracting 

 young eyes to objects of interest in the plant world that could 

 be enjoyed without the use of a compound microscope. In 

 a measure the object was attained, at least sufficiently to 

 show that a microscope was by no means indispensable for 

 students beginning to observe plant life. When contemplating 

 revision, suggestions were asked of young teachers, and some 

 of them seemed to find the lack of a lesson on internal anatomy 

 one of the disadvantages of the former edition. In order to 

 meet their needs a short lesson on this subject has been added, 

 together with a more extended synopsis of the Natural Orders 

 of South African plants. While these additions appear some- 

 what as excrescences to the more elementary chapters of the 

 book, the hope is entertained that their usefulness to those for 

 whom they have been written will justify their insertion. 



It is a pleasure to acknowledge gratefully my indebtedness 

 to those who have aided me in the work of revision. Miss 

 Alette Hugo and Miss Avrylle Bottomley have given valued 

 assistance in pen-and-ink drawings. Miss Pegler, F.L.S., and 



