2 INTRODUCTION 



them are the Ferns, Mosses, Seaweeds, and Fungi. In this 

 book we treat only of flowering plants, so far as they can be 

 studied with the naked eye aided by a simple lens. 



Method of using this book.— This book is divided into 

 three Parts : — Part I. relating to General Morphology (and 

 including a special .chapter on the Scotch Pine) ; Part II. 

 referring to the Classification of Angiosperms ; and Part III. 

 relating to the Physiology of plants. 



Beginners should first read chapters ii. to v. in Part I., 

 and should practically examine the roots, stems, and leaves 

 described. They may then pass on to the study of Physi- 

 ology contained in Part III. (chapters xv. to xxii.) ; or 

 they may read the remaining chapters of Part I. (omitting 

 that which relates to the Scotch Pine), at the same time 

 studying the families specially marked at the commence- 

 ment of Part II. (chapter xiv.). In this book the char- 

 acters of each family are denoted by a description of one 

 or more representatives which are types, of that family. 

 While a student is reading the description of one of these 

 types, he must have before him a' specimen of the plant 

 described, so that he can constantly examine and refer to it. 

 Should any point in the description be beyond the compre- 

 hension of the learner, reference should be made to the 

 teacher or, by means of the index, to the explanations given 

 in Part I. The families should not be studied in the exact 

 order in which they are placed in the book : the season of 

 the year and other considerations will determine the order in 

 which the types are to be examined. As examples of flowers 

 appropriate for beginners we may mention the Buttercup, 

 Poppy, Wallflower, Pea, Rose, Primrose, Dead Nettle, 

 Hyacinth, and Daffodil. In beginning the study of the types 

 for the first time, students should entirely ignore, and omit 

 to read, the characters given at the commencement of the 

 description of each family. 



If the beginner has studied the systematic portion of the 

 book thus outlined before working at the Physiology, 

 he should then pass on to Part III. 



Finally, when the student has acted as previously, advised, 

 the whole of Part I. should be read over again : and the 

 remaining types and families in Part II. might also be dealt 

 with. 



