TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. 



THE need of a good handbook of microscopical methods, 

 as applied to plants, has for some time been evident. 



Such as we have had have only partially covered the 

 ground, and are now mostly out of date on account of the 

 rapid advances of the last few years. 



The appearance of the original edition of this work very 

 satisfactorily met this growing demand so far as concerned 

 students familiar with the German language ; while its evi- 

 dent thoroughness and the familiarity with its subject-mat- 

 ter shown by the author in the selection of the most useful 

 among the innumerable published methods give it especial 

 value for students of less experience. 



The belief that elementary students should have access, 

 from the first, to the best methods, and the fact that few 

 such English-speaking students read German readily, have 

 led me, with the support of the present publishers, and with 

 the cordial consent of the author and publishers of the orig- 

 inal edition, to undertake its translation. 



In preparing this English edition, I have followed quite 

 closely the original. Certain notes and tables have been 

 added which, it is hoped, will add to its practical usefulness 

 to American and English students ; and certain matters not 

 included by the author, which seem to demand notice, have 

 been discussed in their proper places. 



