PEEPACE. 



Ij^ this work it hajs been ^l^e Antlior's. -wish, to adopt in all 

 cases thos? names -VYhicli have the cl^,ini of priority, unless 

 good cause should be sho^rai for a contrary proceeding; and 

 ^th this object he h.^ .carefully examined nearly all the 

 best European Floras, comparing; our plants with the de- 

 scriptions Gontained in. tbem^ and in yerymany cases with 

 foreign specimens of undoubted authencity. In the adop- 

 tion of genera, and species aji e,nd?a,Your has been made, by 

 the examination pf the plants .thems^ves, to determine which. 

 9,re to. be regarded as .truly distinct, — thus, it, is hoped, 

 taking I^a^ure as a- guide, and not depending upon the au- 

 thority qf any name,, however , (distinguished. Still, let it not 

 be supposed that, any.pl^j^m is made to peculiar accuracy, 

 or that the Author ^eoa,4^ers . himself qualified to dictate 

 to any student of botany; for he i§ well aware that there are 

 many points upon, whjeh persons ,wla.o h^ve carefully studied 

 the subject may form, (different conolu^ons from those to 

 which he has been led, . , , , , ■ 



An attempt ,has recently been made greatly to reduce the 

 number, of our native species. The, results obtained seem 

 tp |be,so totally opposed to the teaching of the plants them- 

 selves, and -the, evidence addue(3d,in their favour is so, seldom 

 mpre tli^n, a statement, of, opinion, tha,t:.they rcannot safely be 

 adopted ; nor does, the plan of the present work admit of a 

 dispussipn, of the many question?, raised by them, .jUso it 



