PREFACE. 



There is, perhaps, no department of science with which so many delightful 

 associations are connected as the study of Botany. The gorgeous beauty and 

 periodical verdure of trees and flowers, the economical utility and medicinal 

 virtues of many plants, and their general application in the commonest arts of 

 life, have attracted the admiration and secured the attention of mankind from 

 the earliest ages; and stiU continue to be objects of the greatest importance. 



While it has been the purpose of the present volume to present to the general 

 reader a comprehensive and popular description of all those Vegetables which 

 claim an interest, either for their beauty, utility, or rarity, it has also been 

 deemed of importance to give the physiological history and classification of Plants 

 in such detail as may be of utility to the more systematic student of Botany. 



The First Part of the Work, therefore, consists of the physiology, geogra- 

 phical distribution, and classification of Plants. 



The Second Part embraces a history of Plants used for food and clothing; 

 in ai"ts and manufactures; in medicine; and for ornamental purposes. 



The Concluding Portion treats of the practical culture of Plants, the pre- 

 servation of specimens, and the drying of roots and seeds. 



Ill a popular Work of this nature it was found impossible to proceed alto- 

 gether on a strictly scientific plan; but so far as was practicable, the Natural 

 method of arrangement has been adopted. Thus, in treating of individual plants, 

 the great leading divisions of the vegetable kingdom have been followed; and 

 in a considerable number of cases, the species have been grouped under their 

 natural families. In general, however, the aiTangemont must be considered as 

 made subservient to the grouping of vegetables according to their economical 

 uses, as those employed for food, clothing, dyeing, medicine, and ornament. 



To remedy this irregularity, a chapter has been devoted to an account of tlie 

 systems of classification, and notices of the Natural families of plants have been 

 arranged and inserted under the respective divisions. A compendium of Fossil 

 Botany has also been added, as forming an interesting addition to the existing 

 genera of plants. 



