PEEFACE 



The course outlined in this little book is essen- 

 tially a study of the functions or action of the 

 plant, and organs are considered chiefly as instru- 

 ments for the performance of work, with but little 

 attention to their morphology. It is believed that 

 this method of introduction to the subject of botany 

 will be best suited for beginners who have not at 

 hand the facilities of a laboratory. In conformity 

 with this idea, the use of technical terms has been 

 restricted to the actual necessities of logical treat- 

 ment, and the demonstrations have been developed 

 by the simplest experimental methods. 



Material. — The apparatus needed to carry out 

 the work may be found in any household, with the 

 exception of the hand lens, which may be purchased 

 for less than a dollar; a glass which will magnify 

 six to ten times will be sufficient. A supply of 

 plant material is, of course, indispensable. Stu- 

 dents having access to greenhouses will be able to 



