PREFACE TO PART III. 



We are pleased to be able to announce the completion of Part III, 

 American Woods, though delayed, by unforeseen circumstances, longer 

 than expected at the time of the completion of Part II. 



In its preparation I have to acknowledge the kind service rendered by 

 Rev. J. Hermann Wibbe, Mrs. Elizabeth Gr. Britton and Dr. Charles 

 Mohr in determining the German, French and Spanish synonyms. For 

 courtesies, while in the field gathering timbers, I am pleased to express 

 gratitude to Prof. W. R. Dudley, Prof. N. L. Britton, Mr. Henry Hicks 

 and others. 



Were I to express thanks to all, by name, towards whom I feel them, 

 it would necessitate an enumeration of all my patrons. Each does his 

 part to help the cause along and to each in turn we feel correspondingly 

 grateful . 



The present agitation in botanical nomenclature, which is very justly 

 designed to establish system and order out of the hitherto unsettled state, 

 finds me in a dilemma. The new system demands, by the law of priority, 

 that many names in common use must be replaced by others. But, 

 should I adopt many of these more recently approved names at this time, 

 it would destroy conformity with the preceding parts of the series, and 

 with the Manuals of Botany now in general use, which I cannot do. I 

 am compelled, therefore, for the present to adopt generally the names 

 which are in more common use, but have introduced in foot-notes the 

 more recently approved' names, if well established. 



I have endeavored to keep Part III up to the standard of its prede- 

 cessors, and hope that it will merit the pleasing reception and approba- 

 tion so generously awarded them. It shall be our constant aim to main- 

 tain that standard, and feeling confident of being able to bring out the 

 subsequent parts of the series with dispatch, we hope to deserve the 

 continued interes and favor of our patrons. 



By way of encouragement to those who may be impatient to receive 

 the future parts, we are pleased to say that Part IV is already well along 

 and is to appear at an early date. 



LOWVILLE, N. Y., October 6, 1892. 



