Till PREFACE. 



The student very properly inquires what books are 

 most suitable for his purposes. In addition to this or 

 some other elementary work, it is necessary he should 

 have some practical ones, such as Dr. Bigelow's "Plants 

 of Boston," which is particularly recommended in this 

 vicinity ; although it describes a part only of the na- 

 tive plants, yet Dr. B's descriptions and observations, 

 added to the generic and specific characters, render it 

 very satisfactory and easy even to those who are but 

 slightly acquainted with the language of botany : or, 

 Mr. Eaton's Manual of Br>tany/ 5 2d ed. containing 

 descriptions of the indigenous plants to the north of 

 Virginia, which are well defined and established ; and 

 of the cultivated exotics. 55 



Mr. NuttalPs Genera of North American plants, 55 



is highly recommended. 



* 



Richard's Botanical Dictionary, New-Haven trans- 

 lation, is very useful for students. 



The student can do very little towards getting any 

 practical knowledge of botany with less books than this 

 or some other elementary work, and either Dr Bige- 

 Iow 5 s Plants of Boston/ 5 or Mr. Eaton 5 s Manual 

 of Botany, 55 as a practical work. 



The student should, if possible, examine plants from 

 the very commencement of studying the elements, es- 



