PREFACE. Vll 



most persons do not enable them, or dispose them, to apply 

 much attention to microscopic Botany, and its minute dis- 

 sections, as connected with the Natural System of Plants. 

 To the busy Student the easiest mode, so far as is compati- 

 ble with science, will be found the best. For example, the 

 Medical Student, by uniting the Linnpean with the 

 Jussieuan System, would readily detect the name of his 

 plant ; next, refer it to its Natural Group or Order, and 

 afterwards learn, without difficulty, the qualities, attributed 

 to such group, whether poisonous, or salutary, &c. Some 

 artificial key appears necessary for Natural Systems, even 

 in their present state of developement, and such a key is 

 afiorded by means of the Linnsean System. To those, 

 whom genius, or inclination prompts to devote time and 

 attention to these minute and curious, and by no means, 

 despicable investigations, in the scale of knowledge, we 

 abandon the Natural System, hy itself y\m\ho\xt artificial aids. 

 But, so long as the study of Botany is allowed to remain, 

 as an elegant recreation for the leisure hours of nearly all 

 classes of society, so long must the Linnsean, or some other 

 system equally manageable, continue in use. And, on 

 these grounds, we have given the Linnsean System the 

 lead, referring for ample information on the Natural Sys- 

 tem of Plants, in the first instance to Richard's excellent 

 book,' and in the second, to Professor Lindley's learned 

 and critical works. 



In connection with the peculiarities of structure in the 



' " This work of Richard, (His Elements, &c.) contains an excel- 

 lent Introduction to, and a Table of the Natural Orders, and ought 

 to be in the hands of every one who desires information upon the 

 subject." — Hooker, 



