xvi INTRODUCTION. 



plants by this method both intelligible and easy. When 

 he has answered all its questions concerning any plant, he 

 has possession of the facts upon which its true classifica- 

 tion depends. 



The next three chapters of the book are devoted to 

 the observation of those minute but especially important 

 characters of plants which require the constant use of 

 magnifying - glasses in their study. Practice with the 

 flower-schedule in describing newly-discovered plants, and 

 in a more searching study of familiar ones, is still con- 

 tinued, and furnishes inexhaustible interest to the learner. 



The remaining chapters of this volume are accordingly 

 given to a critical study of six of the most natural orders 

 of plants, specimens of which everywhere abound ; and 

 the principles of classification illustrated by these groups 

 will prepare the pupil for a rational use of the Flora, and 

 thereby enable him to dispense with the artificial key that 

 usually accompanies a popular Flora. 



I have, said that by the common method of studying 

 botany there is no training in observation. The text- 

 book is read and recited in the customary class-room way; 

 and there is only the most incidental attention to the liv- 

 ing objects of study, and no attempt to exercise the pupil's 

 own faculties in solving the questions they offer. Accord- 

 ingly, when classification is attempted, an artificial key 

 has to be resorted to, which takes the place of the actual 

 knowledge which the learner should have. It is at this 

 stage that the contrast in results of the two methods is 

 most apparent. When, by following the key, a pupil seeks 

 for the class, order, genus, etc., to which the plant in hand 

 belongs, he does not use his own knowledge. The struct- 

 ure of the plant is to be compared with an ideal ; but he 

 has not the ideal, neither can he interpret structure. So 

 he turns to the key and learns what to look for first. 

 When he has found the part specified, he compares its 

 appearance with the statement of the key. If this seems 



