INTEODUCTION. 



THE First Book of Botany, for the use of beginners, was 

 designed to cultivate the observing powers of the young by 

 making plants themselves the regular objects of study. It 

 was published three years ago, and adopted by numerous 

 schools, and, upon trial, it proved so satisfactory that there 

 have been frequent and urgent calls for a more advanced book 

 upon the same method. After much delay, which I regret, 

 but have been unable to avoid, a Second Book, carrying out 

 the plan, is now ready, together with an instructive series of 

 Botanical Charts, which will be helpful to both teachers and 

 pupils. 



In the preface to the First Book, and in an Essay reprinted 

 at the end of the present volume, I have stated the purpose 

 that led to these publications : the present extension of the 

 method affords a suitable occasion for presenting some further 

 considerations in illustration of it. I had two objects in view, 

 one relating to the subject of Botany, and the other to the 

 mental cultivation of the young. 



As regards the science itself, it seemed to me to be very 

 badly dealt with in the schools. In many it is not taught at 

 all, and in others it is regarded as a kind of superfluous side- 

 study, of such secondary importance that it matters little in 

 what way it is treated. And so it is subordinated to the school 

 routine, and pursued in a hurried and desultory manner, by 

 books and recitations, and by memorizing second-hand informa- 

 tion. It is perfectly well known that, in institutions of all 

 grades, students often " go through " the botanical text-books 



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