212 WAYSIDE WEEDS. 



such as the anemoneSj columbineSj etc. — associates 

 them by reason of certain family relations, but 

 distinguishes them from each other by well-marked 

 generic distinctions. A little observation, and the 

 use of a " Flora"* win soon familiarize any one with 

 the nature of these specific, generic, and family dif- 

 ferences, although it may be long before the actual 

 distinctions are fixed in the mind. Neither must a 

 learner expect to find all plant families as strongly 

 marked out g,nd as easily recognizable as those 

 which we have chosen as illustrations, because of 

 their distinctness ; but the interest wiU not be less, 

 or ought not be less, becanse of a little difficulty. 

 It may be the artificial classification ofi'ers an easier 

 path at first, ^.nd in some respects presents un- 

 doubted advantages, but the knowledge it gives is 

 often more apparent than real. On the other hand, 

 the natural groupings cannot be studied without ac- 

 quiring much real information illustrative of those na- 

 tural bonds of connection, which, extending through- 

 o ut the whole vegetable world, combine it into a perfect 

 whole, all the more perfect because of the wonderful 

 number and variety of the tribes and families, the 

 genera and species of which it is composed. 



* A Flora is a work devoted to the deaeription, in a classified 

 form, of the plants peculiar to any district or country. 



H4RB1LD. PBINTEB, LOITDON. 



