IV PEEFACE. 



The Primary Class-Book of Botany (one of the present series), is intended to supply this great 

 want of a Common-School book, which shall be at once clear, simple, and thorough in its details, so 

 as to render the science attractive without diluting it. It consists substantially of the FIKST PART 

 of the Present Volume. It is unencumbered with useless technicalities and synonyms, and is so 

 simple and direct to the point, that any Teacher of even common penetration and address can enter 

 at once into the spirit of the lessons ; and thus, while he is teaching, be preparing himself along 

 with the scholar, to enter the analytical course of study, should his taste incline that way. 



Teachers will observe that in the references to the Illustrations, contained in the Text, the num- 

 ber of the Plate is given but once ; hence all figures are included in the one last mentioned, till 

 another is introduced. 



Part II., or SYSTEMATIC BOTANY, containing the FLORA, has some important points for an ele- 

 mentary work, among which are the simplicity and directness of the synopses, the clearness and ful- 

 ness of the descriptions, the nice distinctions observed between nearly-allied species, and a very high 

 degree of simplicity and clearness in the analyses. 



To those who have a desire to cultivate their minds, but are unable to expend much time or 

 money for the purpose, this work offers signal advantages ; for in the intervals of recreation and rest, 

 when a heavier volume could not be attempted, this would attract and please ; and by its aid they 

 may gratify their natural taste by attaining a competent knowledge of this charming science, with 

 perhaps the will to pursue it further, and make themselves thorough and accomplished scholars. 

 As it can be studied without a Teacher, it is especially intended for the Working Classes, who have 

 hitherto been cut off .from a knowledge of the science by the heaviness or abstruseness of the best 

 systematic works on the subject. If it could only be accepted as the bearer of good tidings, it would 

 open to the Worker treasures of thought, feeling, beauty, fairer than the pearls of the East, and 

 richer than the beaten gold of Ophir treasures which all the wealth of the Universe could not 

 purchase ; for it would invest him with a transmuting power, to change the meanest objects into the 

 most beautiful. A common weed, nay, a simple leaf, or blade of grass, would be transfigured before 

 him a luminous expounder of the Divine Life radiant with gems of undying truth. Could 

 young persons only know the value of this power they would never sigh for the frippery of fashion, 

 the outside show, or the misnamed pleasures of the world. Let this volume, then, fulfil its mission, 

 by scattering flowery truths in the too often waste-places of the world. Let it go to the workshop 

 and the cotton-mill ; and the sons and daughters of Toil will find the fable of Aladdin more than 

 realized ; for the lighted lamp of science shall unlock a world, rich beyond all human conception, 

 with treasures of immortal life and beauty. 



In closing, I would say that access to the best works on the subject has been made easy to me ; 

 and among these I would particularly acknowledge benefits received from those of Wood, Gray, and 

 Torrey & Gray. 



F. H. G. 



