THE FIRST BOOK OF BOTANY 



Designed to cultivate the Observing Powers of GMldren. 



Price, $1. 



This "book is inconteatably saperlor to all othei-B of its kind, in two essen 

 Utl respects : 



FrBST, it is the Tjeet book for all beginners in botany, whatever their age, 

 because the rudiments of the subject are reduced to thi^ir utmost simplifica 

 tion, and all the study is upon plants themselves. To study botany withoui 

 studying plants is a mockery of education, because it leads not to real 

 knowledge, but to sham knowledge. Miss Youmans's book involves the 

 study of the plants from the beginning to the end ; the book being only a 

 guide and a help. 



Second, this First Book of Botany is the only school-book we have, that 



Srovidep systematically for the cultivation of the observing powers of chil- 

 ren. It practises them in noticing, searching, compariue, and reasoning, 

 with reference to objects themselves — the most important and neglected 

 part of our mental culture. In short, the plan of this book combines the 

 practical acquisition of one of tlie most fascinating and useful of the 

 sciences, witli that kind of intellectual training which it should be the high- 

 est purpose of education to confer. 



From Prof. John S. Hakt, Principal of the Trenton Normal School. 

 This little book seems to me to supply the very thing needed in our 

 course of primary instruction. I refer not to the study of botany, but to the 

 method of studying it here developed. We have here a fourth fundamental 

 branch of study, wnich shall afford a systematic training of the observing 

 powers ; and its general introduction into our primary schools would work 

 a great and most important revolution in our whole system of education. 



From the Nation. 

 We must award the unpretending work of Misa Youmana high praise. 

 The authoress has nnquestionably the tme conception of the duty of the 

 teacher. Every effort is made to keep the attention of the student upon the 

 object to be studied, and so well baa she succeeded that one may safely say 

 that the student can do nothing with the book unless he has the specimen 

 in hand. The jjlan is so arranged as to be suitable for a primary school, 

 but the method is one which may apply to the college as well. We heartily 

 recommend every teacher in any department of natural science, who is wise 

 enough to doubt the perfection of bis methods, to look over this book. 



From Edwaed Smith, Superintendent of School, Syracuse, N. Y. 

 Miss Youmans's Botany is the only work T have ever seen that meets the 

 wants of our schools in the lower grades. I believe it will do more to turn 

 the attention of instructors into the proper channel for the education of 

 children than any thing heretofore published. 



From Prof. Wm. P. Phelps, Principal of the Normal School, Winona, Minn. 

 I am delighted with this little work. It gives us a scientific plan for the de- 

 velopment of the observing powers of the young. Send us at once 150 copies. 



After using it several weeks, Prof. Phelps thus closes an elaborate notice 

 of the book in the Winona HepuMican ; 



Every class in the institution is now devoting a regular portion of its 

 time, daily, to this study pursued in this practical way. The results thus 

 fer are highly satisfactory. Itjias awakened a new interest in study through- 

 out the school. Many, who have heretofore been indifferent in their work, 

 have taken hold witli great zeal^and are pursuing this fascinating branch 

 with ardor and enthusiasm. It is no uncommon spectacle to see children 

 occupymg theii play-hours with a bunch of plants, and, book in hand, pur- 

 Buing this study as a pastime. This, surely, is an unerring test of its value, 

 as it is the highest recommendation that could be given or its adaptation tt' 

 the wants of our primary schools. 



