INTRODUCTION 



BOTANY is a science of the very greatest importance but 

 one which is frequently misunderstood and neglected in our 

 educational system. To many people, it means the learning of 

 scientific names of plants, but this is an incorrect idea. Botany 

 is neither the study of flowers nor the learning of scientific 

 names. Botany is the study of plants and plant life. It is of 

 great importance because plant life is absolutely necessary for 

 the existence of all animal life, including mankind. We are 

 dependent either directly or indirectly upon the plants for food, 

 clothing, building materials, fuel and many other necessaries. 

 We use plants, or animals which have fed on plants, for food. 

 Every article of food on the table, except the salt and water, 

 is derived from plants or from animals which are dependent 

 on plants for food. We use cotton and linen, and many other 

 vegetable fibres, for clothing and many other purposes; and 

 we also use wool and silk which are derived from animals that 

 have fed on plants. We use wood for building purposes, for 

 making furniture and parts of tools and implements, and for 

 the making of paper pulp. We use wood and coal and oil, 

 which are derived from plants, for fuel. And finally, we go 

 to the plants for about 90 per cent of the drugs to relieve our 

 aches and pains and restore us to health. 



When we once realize our absolute dependence on plant life, 

 we also begin to think something about the number of industries 

 that are dependent on plants. The farmers, the horticulturists, 

 the gardeners, the florists and the foresters are not the only 

 people who are dependent on plants for a livelihood. Practically 

 all manufacturing industries are dependent on plants in some 

 form ; for fuel if for nothing else. Even the electric establish- 

 ments must use fuel to run the machinery for the generation of 



