X PREFACE. 



enough for that purpose, even though he should 

 not be led to pursue these subjects further 

 by himself. I have every where aimed at fa- 

 miliar illustrations and examples, referring, as 

 much as possible, to plants of easy acquisition. 

 In the explanation of botanical terms and cha- 

 racters, I have, besides furnishing a new set of 

 plates with references to the body of the work, 

 always cited a plant for my purpose by its scien- 

 tific name, with a reference to some good and 

 sufficient figure. For this end I have generally 

 used either my own works English and Exotic 

 Botany, all the plates of which, as well as of 

 the present volume, are the performance of the 

 same excellent botanist as well as artist ; or 

 Curtis 's Magazine, some of which also was 

 drawn by Mr. Sowerby, but the greater part 

 by the no less ingenious Mr. Edwards. I have 

 chosen these as the most comprehensive and 

 popular books, quoting others only when these 

 failed me, or when I had some particular end 

 in view. If this treatise should be adopted for 

 general use in schools or families, the* teacher 

 at least will probably be furnished with those 

 works, and will accommodate their contents 

 to the use of the pupils. I am aware of the 



