PREFACE 



THIS Course of Practical Instruction in Botany having 

 now passed through two editions, it will be unnecessary 

 again to state the history of its origin ; this has been 

 sufficiently set forth in the Preface to the earlier 

 Editions. 



The book now stands for the first time as a connected 

 whole, with continuous pagination: as compared with 

 the previous editions of the two parts, hitherto separate, 

 the present issue shows but slight changes, excepting 

 as regards arrangement. The chapter on Micro- 

 chemical Reactions (Chapter III,) has been greatly 

 curtailed, and the specific reactions of the less common 

 substances in the plant-body have been introduced in 

 the text, at various points where such substances may 

 be met with in the study of the types. 



In dealing with the Angiosperms the description of 

 work to be done on the seed and fruit, and on germina- 

 tion has been placed after that on the ovule and 

 fertilisation ; this is its reasonable position. The 



