Trees, Shrubs and Vines 
in tabulated regularity, as in the dead herbarium, but 
disposed with reference to their contrasts and harmonies, 
and showing their place in nature—miniature landscape 
scenes, with nature’s spirit and atmosphere, more edu- 
cating than the completest scientific arboretum in the 
world. Art has here conspired with nature only to 
show nature at her best. 
This work is designed for the uninstructed nature- 
lover, who wishes help in learning the multitudinous 
forms of landscape growth all around him, without the 
labor of preliminary training in botanical science. It 
will be found of great convenience, moreover, to the 
more experienced botanist; for, in scientific works, the 
classification being based upon the details of the blos- 
som, no help is there afforded for identifying a species 
except intheshort flowering period. But almost every 
tree, and a large number of shrubs and vines, by the 
groupings of this book, can be learned simply from the 
leaf and other features of growth, and it therefore avails 
for fully half the year ; and by the Analytical Keys every 
species can be more quickly found than any botanist can 
do it by the current method, even with the flower in 
hand. 
No criticism is here intended of the prevailing 
method of classification by the often microscopic re- 
semblances in flower and fruit: it is not only the most 
valid system as yet devised, but is indispensable where 
thousands of plants are concerned. The following work, 
however, excludes four-fifths of our entire flora from con- 
sideration, and a much simpler grouping is feasible. 
Moreover, the trained botanist regards the matter from 
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