SPRENGEL'S PREFACE. 



In my " Introduction to the Knowledge of Plants," 

 it was my object to promote a knowledge of the vege- 

 table world among the public at large, — and I may 

 venture to say, that the result has surpassed my ex- 

 pectations. But the progress which the Itigher and 

 scientific knowledge of plants has lately made, seem- 

 ed to demand an introductory Treatise for the use of 

 students, which, embracing the discoveries that have 

 recently been made throughout the whole extent of 

 the science, might supply the place of the introduc- 

 tory work of WiLLDENOW, which has now become 

 completely useless. With the help of the latest edi- 

 tion of De Candolle's " Theorie Elementaire de 

 la Botanique," published at Paris 1819, I flatter my- 

 self that I have been able to present to the public 

 such a work. But only the first three parts of this 

 treatise, namely, the Nomenclature, the Theory of 

 Classification, and Descriptive Botany, are to be con- 

 sidered as extracts from the book of my excellent 

 friend. All the rest is my own ; and the reader will 

 perceive that I have used my utmost exertions to ful- 

 fil well the task I had undertaken. 



