PREFACE. vii 



in which they grow, little difficulty should be encountered in 

 determining the position of any plant in the book. 



It has seemed most natural to make the divisions of soil 

 according to a gradation from plants that grow in water 

 through those of mud and those of moist, rich, rocky, light and 

 sandy soils respectively to those that flourish in dry and waste 

 ground. Under this classification the primary idea in group- 

 ing the genera has been to keep the families together, and so 

 far as is consistent with this plan they have been arranged 

 according to their seasons of blooming. 



The common English name, or several common names, when 

 they exist, and the scientific names of the plants are first given. 

 Accents have been retained on the latter as being an assistance 

 to their correct pronunciation. Then follow, so that they may 

 be seen at a glance, the family, colour, odour, range and time 

 of bloom. A simple analysis is also given, from which the 

 manner of their growth and the form and number of their parts 

 can be learned. From the routine order of placing first the 

 root, or stem, a deviation has been indulged in by beginning 

 with a description of the flowers. It is thought to be more 

 considerate to allow the novice to satisfy his enthusiasm over 

 the blossom before claiming his attention for the root, stem, 

 and leaves. 



The technical terms that have been used will not be found 

 difficult to conquer by a little patience and study of the next 

 chapter. The student will then be armed with a vocabulary 

 from which two words will serve him for twelve of his own 

 that he might otherwise employ. Every science has its phe- 

 nomena that individuals are ready to master ; but for some 

 strange reason botany has, until recently, been so enwrapped 

 in the gloom of technical expressions that it has been declared 

 impossible. Happily this idea has become a phantom of his- 

 tory. The change undoubtedly is greatly owing to the many 

 delightful books that have been written on this subject. It is 

 these books that make naturalists. 



