PREFACE. 



is more varied, and because the young direct their summer 

 visits, whether for pleasure or for health, more to the 

 warm coast and flowery fields of Kent and Sussex than 

 they do to Scotland or to the mountainous parts of 

 England. For some few Plants introduced I cannot plead 

 their frequency anywhere, but I have ventured to intro- 

 duce them on even higher grounds : either for their great 

 value, their brilliant beauty, or their singular structure ; 

 such are the Flax, the White Water Lily, the Sundew, 

 and the Orobanche. 



Another explanation also I owe to the Botanist, who 

 will directly observe that where but one species occurs 

 under each genus, no specific characters are given ; it is 

 because such are not necessary, and the omission will 

 often drive the student more to the generic differences, 

 which are much more useful. In these cases, however, 

 the description is given, except in such plants as are so 

 well known as to need none, such as the Daisy, the 

 Holly, and the Sloe. 



The Plates are necessarily very small, but this was 

 unavoidable, as will be apparent when it is considered 

 that there are two hundred and eighty Plants represented, 

 and to have engraved them on a larger scale would have 

 made the Work too expensive for general circulation. 



The Poetical Extracts often appear without a name, 

 they are not however on that account to be considered 

 original. I lay no claim to them as such, except perhaps 

 a few, and the only reason the writers' names do not in 

 every instance appear, is because many of the lines have 

 been given to me at some distant times, and I know not 

 from what source they were taken, or I should certainly 

 have given credit where credit is due. 



