XIV. INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 



To make a collection of leaves, of different forms, 

 depriving them of their outer coat, and leaving only 

 their beautiful network of nerves and veins, To sow 

 seeds in sand, and observe the first growth of the 

 Embryo plant, To grow cuttings of plants (or even 

 of a single leaf of some plants) in a vial of water, 

 where you can observe the growth of the young 

 rootlets, To grow mustard and cress-seed in a plate, 

 and an oak-tree in a bottle! afford a variety of in- 

 teresting amusement, ever leading to the discovery of 

 something new, and yet, leaving something new to 

 be discovered : 



" For every green herb, from the Lotus to the Darnel, 

 Is rich with delicate aids, to help incurious man." 



But I must now explain to you, the purport of this 

 little work ; which is, to teach you, as simply as I can, 

 the classing of plants ; giving you such botanical 

 descriptions as will make you familiar with the name 

 of every part of a plant, with the character of 

 each family of plants, and with the terms used in 

 Botany. 



