xii PREFACE. 



all other branches of Natural History, it is founded 

 upon a close observation of numerous independent 

 facts, and can only be understood as a science after 

 long and attentive study ; nevertheless a certain 

 amount of it may be acquired without extraordinary 

 application. The following pages will, it is hoped, ex- 

 plain sufficiently in what way this may best be done. 



What I should recommend to those who take up 

 this work with the intention of stud}dng it, is to begin 

 with the beginning, to follow it in the same order in 

 which it is written, and to procure for examination 

 the very flowers that are named in it ; they are in 

 most cases within the reach of all who live in the 

 country. The specimens should be carefully com- 

 pared with the descriptions and plates ; and when 

 they are all remembered and understood, you will be 

 a Botanist; — not a very learned one — but acquainted 

 with many of the fundamental facts of the science, 

 and able to prosecute the inquiry to any further 

 point, and to study other and more scientific works 

 with ease and advantage. 



The course to be pursued by those who would push 

 their inquiries beyond the information in the present 

 work should be of the following nature. They should 

 read some Introduction to Botany, in which the mo- 

 dern views of structure and of vital action are well 



