TO TEACHERS, 



The author indulges the hope that this book will not only afford assistance 

 but gratiticalion to Teachers, in the pursuance of the severe and often cnimyant 

 dunes of their profession. It is hoped that it may serve to interest and quicken 

 the dull intellects of some pupils, to arrest the fugitive attention of others, and 

 to relax the minds of the over studious, by leading them all into paths strewed 

 v.'ith flowers, and teaching them that these beautiful creations of Almighty 

 Power are designed not merely to delight by their fragrance, colour, and form, 

 but to illustrate the most logical divisions of Science, the deepest principles ol 

 Physiology, and the goodness of God. 



The best time for commencing botanical studies seems to be that of the open- 

 ing of flowers in the spring ; though, where circumstances render ii convenient to 

 begin in winter, assistance is offered by engravings. The arrangement of sub- 

 jects might be altered, in pursuing the study u-ithout the aid of natural Jlowers. 

 The Second part, which treats of the various organs of plants, the formation of 

 buds, and other subjects connected with vegetable physiology ; the Fourth part, 

 which gives the history of the science, with the distinctions in the kingdoms of 

 Mature, might be studied to advantage, before attending much to the principles of 

 classification, which are mostly illustrated in the First and Third parts. 



The Botanical Class in this Institution has, forsome years past, been composed 

 of about forty pupils. The method pursued in teaching has been very labori- 

 ous, as the want of suitable books rendered it necessary for the Author of these 

 Lectures, who has had charge of the class, to devote much time and attention in 

 gleaning from different writers such facts and principles as would illustrate the 

 .science, and make it interesting to the pupils. This work contains the substance- 

 of what has been thus collected, and the method in which those facts and priij 

 ciples were illustrated and arranged. A brief view of tjie mode of teaching pur- 

 sued by the author, may be satisfactory to those about to commence the science. 



On "the first meeting'of the class, after some explanation as to the nature of 

 the study they are about to commence, each member is presented with a flower 

 for analysis. The flower selected is always a simple one, exhibiting m a con- 

 spicuous manner the different organs of fructification; the lily and tulip are both 

 very proper for this purpose. The names of the different parts of the flower 

 are then explained, each pupil being directed to dissect and examine her flower 

 as we proceed. After noticing the parts of fructification, the pupils are prepared 

 10 understand the principles on which the artificial classes are lounded, and to 

 trace the plant to its proper class, order, &c. At each step, they are required to 

 "xamine thcii f cT* f.lj-, tti.ii io answer simultaneously the qufs'ii.i j proposed ; as, 

 now many stamens has your flower 1 Suppose it to be alily, Ihey answer six. 

 They are then told it is of the sixth class. How many pistils 1 "They answer 

 one-^ihev are told it is of the first order. They are then directed to take their 

 books and turn to the sixth class, first order, to find the genus. In each step in 

 the comparison they are questioned as above described, until, having seen in 

 ■what respects their plant agrees with each general division, and differs from each 

 penus under the section in which it is found, they ascertain its generic name. 

 They are taught in the same manner to trace out its species: their minds per- 

 ceiving at each step some new circumstance of resemblance or difference, until 

 they come to a species, the description of which answers to the plant under cod* 

 Rjderation. 



