INTRODUCTION 



the number and arrangement of the parts of the flower. All 

 the various artificial systems have been superseded by that 

 called the Natural System, which is based on the resem- 

 blances and differences of plants. The natural system ot 

 classifying plants is the most perfect yet used, though it is not 

 up to the present complete, because the relationships between 

 different plants have not been fully worked out. 



To make the above divisions of our subject yet more clear to 

 the reader we arrange them in a tabular form, which should be 

 carefully learnt. 



Botany. 



I J 



Morphology. Classification. Physiology. 



I I 



Anatomy. Histology. 



Nutrition. Movement. Reproduction. 



Life-History of a Plant. Every plant possesses what is 

 termed a life-history, that is, its life has a beginning, it passes 

 through certain stages, old age comes on, and at last it dies. 

 All the changes that a plant undergoes from birth to death make 

 up its life-history. In all the higher plants the life-history com- 

 mences with the germination of the seed, continues as that of 

 the seedling, is prolonged as the plant becomes mature, then 

 flowering takes place, seeds are produced, the parent dies, and 

 the continuity of the race is kept up by the young plant in the 

 seed. 



Necessity for Practical Work. Having now given some 

 idea of the scope and aims of botany, and the boundary lines 

 which mark off the different divisions of the subject, the 

 importance of practical work must next be insisted on. 



No true knowledge of natural history can be obtained without 

 practical work ; and there is no doubt that such work is well 

 adapted for cultivating the powers of observation and attention 

 to details, attainments which are likely to prove of value in 

 whatever walk of life the student may afterward find himself. 



Botany is one of the best subjects with which to commence 

 the study of science, because the necessary materials for 



