PREFACE. XXXI 



ing to the order in which I am in the habit of con- 

 sulting them, which has arisen from long practice, 

 those which I have found most useful naturally of- 

 fering themselves first to my attention. By their be- 

 ing generally in the same order, the reader will know 

 where to look for each. Ray's Sijnopsis is necessarily 

 in an English Flora, regularly quoted throughout; 

 as likewise is much of Gerarde's Herbal by John- 

 son ; and the noble wooden cuts of Matthiolus, pub- 

 lished by Valgrisius at Venice. But the bulk of the 

 old herbalists, whether Eng^lish or foreio;n, have been 

 used merely for occasional reference, when they 

 seemed likely to be serviceable, or when their figures 

 appeared peculiarly good. 



In the indexes I have spared neither time nor la- 

 bour. An author may fail in judgment or know- 

 ledge, and for this fallibility he is entitled to indul- 

 gence ; but an index requires nothing more than 

 such a degree of care and attention as his readers 

 have a right, on their part, to expect from him. 



If those who take my various publications for their 

 botanical guides, have half the pleasure in using 

 these books, that I have had in composing them, I 

 need scarcely wish them more. Innocent amuse- 

 ment, inducing a change of ideas, is wholesome for 

 the mind, like air and exercise for the body. On 

 this ground alone Botany may well be recommended ; 

 nor shall I repeat here those higher views of its im- 

 portance as a science, which may be found in the 

 preface to my Introduction, or in my pamphlets on 

 the subject of the Cambridge Botanical Professor- 

 ship. On those occasions it was necessary to ex- 

 plain, to the uninformed, the aims and pretensions 



