PREFACE xi 



The writer desires to express most grateful acknowledgment to 

 Professor James G. Needham for helpful suggestions as to the 

 plan of the book and reading of the manuscript ; to Professor 

 Karl M. Wiegand for reading, criticism, and amendment of the text 

 while in proof ; and to Miss Lela A. Gross of the Editorial De- 

 partment of the New York State Agricultural College for reading 

 the proof. 



The writer has attempted not very successfully to make the 

 terms of the descriptive text somewhat less technical and easier 

 for the general reader to understand than that of the botanies ; but 

 one who makes even a modest effort in that direction soon realizes 

 the difficulties, for, after all, technical terms are exact, and no 

 paraphrase, however carefully defined, can be made so fit. " Seeds " 

 are often mentioned by that term, because it is the only one used 

 by the seed merchant and the farmer, to whom, also, any capsular 

 fruit is likely to be a "pod." Of the common names given, the 

 writer has in every case selected for a heading the one considered to 

 be in widest and most common use for the plant described. 



A few paragraphs of the introductory chapters are rearranged 

 from some lessons about weeds which were furnished by the writer 

 for the Leaflets of the Home Nature-Study Course, while serving as 

 Assistant in the Bureau of Nature-Study at Cornell University. 

 These leaflets, however, are now out of print. To make a book 

 that would be helpful to any one who loves and grows plants, and 

 must combat weeds in order to help them to grow, has been for 

 many years the writer's strongest wish. In the hope that it may 

 be one of the few wishes that "come true," this book is given to the 

 public. 



ADA E. GEORGIA. 



ITHACA, NEW YORK, 

 July, 1914. 



