PREFACE TO PART IV. 



At the time of the conception of "American "Woods" it was little 

 expected that the specimen and text portions of any one part would be 

 issued at separate intervals, and the fact that the first copies of Part IV 

 have been issued in that way necessitates a few words of explanation. 

 While the writer was engaged in the prosecution of the work, and while 

 at the same time preparations for the Columbian Exposition were rife 

 through the land, he received an urgent call, from the Board of World's 

 Fair Managers of the State of New York, to prepare an exhibit illustra- 

 tive of the forestry resources of the State of New York, for display at the 

 coming exposition. The task, though a thoroughly congenial one, he 

 was reluctant to accept, on account of the interruption it might necessi- 

 tate in the issuing of "American Woods." It was finally decided, how- 

 ever, that in consideration of the circumstances our patrons would be 

 willing to accept the specimen portion of Part IV at the time planned 

 for the appearance of the whole, and then the text later, and accord- 

 ingly the new task was entered upon. 



We are now very glad to be able to send out the belated text, which, 

 but for the interruption detailed above, would have appeared with the 

 specimens a year ago. In its preparation we acknowledge with gratitude 

 the services kindly rendered by Eev. J. Herman Wibbe, Mrs. Elizabeth 

 G-. Britton, and Dr. Chas. Mohr, in determining the German, French and 

 Spanish synonyms, and for the very substantial aid and words of encour- 

 agement from our generous patrons is due all, except our love of nature, 

 which inspires the diligent prosecution of the work. 



The agitation in botanical nomenclature finds us in the same dilemma 

 as noted in the preface to Part III. We appreciate the importance of 

 an established system based upon well-authenticated priority, but on the 

 other hand, should we now adopt all of the changes recently proposed, 

 it would destroy conformity with the preceding parts of the work and 

 with the Manuals of Botany in present use, which we dislike to do. 

 Some changes have been made, however, as far as we consistently could, 

 and other names which have a greater or less claim upon common usage 

 we have mentioned in foot notes. 



