X PKEFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



liminary step ; that step which, according to the proverb, is the only 

 one which costs. 



In adopting the machinery of Science, preferring the botanical to 

 the popular names of plants, as well as arranging them in kindred groups 

 I have supposed that such a plan would be most conducive to accuracy 

 of conception, and would, in fact, facilitate the investigation of their 

 true character. By employing names and phrases which have an exclu- 

 sive application, and a definite meaning, the study of plants is rea'ly 

 simplified ; and the knowledge acquired being thereby communicable 

 . with more readiness and precision is greatly enhanced in practical 

 value. By using, overywhere, the same terms in the same sense, men of 

 different regions, or districts, can be sure that they comprehend each 

 other's meaning, and may then discuss questions understand ingly. When 

 disputes arise, touching the merits or demerits of particular plants, both 

 parties will have clear conceptions of the objects referred to, and will 

 consequently have the ad vantage of knowing exactly what they are talk- 

 ing about : which is far from being always the case when they make 

 use of a variable popular nomenclature. 



It is a great mistake, in my opinion, to suppose that the significant 

 language of our Science must necessarily be merged in the vernacular 

 idiom, or degraded into a local patois, in order to adapt it to the capaci- 

 ties of intelligent practical men. An active intellect, I think, more 

 readily acquires new terms, appropriate to a Science, than new meanings 

 of old familiar words : and hence it is that most persons, as they advance 

 in any department of knowledge, are apt to discard all equivocal terms, 

 and to substitute those which are definite, technical, and peculiar. In- 

 stead, therefore, of writing clown to the level of boorish apprehension, I 

 would rather see Agricultural works gradually written up to the scien- 

 tific standard. I would have our young Farmers taught to appreciate 

 the importance of scientific precision, and incited to take their appro- 

 priate position in the intellectual community. 



In the present work, it is hoped and believed that with the aid of 

 the copious Glossary, the Index of Common Names, and the other 

 facilities annexed, there can be no difficulty in becoming familiar 

 with the terms employed, nor in the investigation of the plants enumer- 

 ated:* and the farmer who shall have accomplished that much, will 

 find that he has obtained many new and interesting views of objects 

 intimately connected with his Profession, that he has acquired a capac- 

 ity for observing and profiting by numerous processes and phenomena 



* As a convenient and satisfactory mode of acquiring the requisite Botanical knowledge 

 and of keeping that knowledge always within reach, in case of forgotfulness, I would 

 recommend to the young Farmer the formation of a select Herbarium, containing authen- 

 tic specimens neatly prepared and appropriately labelled of those plants which it is 

 his interest to be acquainted with. Such a collection could readily be obtained by every 

 one who has the taste, or even the curiosity, to extend his information in that direction. 

 It would afford instructive subjects for investigation and comparison, in seasons of leisure; 

 and the contents, being duly arranged, could be examined or referred to, with the like 

 facilities and advantages as attend the consultation of a Dictionary. 



