viii PEEFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



establishing the identity. Thus, in page 1, under the genus Acacia, the synonyme 

 "1. A. acicularis" is but another appellation for "A. Brownei 1," in the ensuing 

 text ; " 2. Mimosa tortuosa," is synonymous with " A. Burmanniana 2 ; " and so on, 

 in like manner, throughout the whole. Next, the authorities for the generic names 

 are very often shortened, and a list of all those, with the country in which they rose 

 to celebrity, will be subjoined. Again, the descriptive peculiarities of species are 

 classed in seven columns, in which the colours of the flowers, — the month during 

 which they commonly blossom, — their habitude, whether as concerns the temperature 

 they receive, their duration, or general nature, — their native climate, and the year 

 in which they were first introduced to Britain, — are all duly registered. "Where 

 either or several of these circumstances are omitted, it is to be inferred that they 

 have not been accurately ascertained. In the case of Epiphytes, Palms, and Grasses, 

 they are simply noted as such, since their habits are universally the same. All 

 other trifling particulars are regularly and efficiently interpreted in the catalogue 

 of abbreviations. 



Having thus specified the objects, classification, and utility of the work, we have 

 only to commend it to the kind indulgence of the public, convinced that, whatever 

 may be its failings — and in such an extensive compilation some defects must 

 naturally be anticipated — they are neither glaring, momentous, nor, notwithstanding 

 the smallness of the type, equal to those of any similar production. To the 

 gardener, and all who cultivate or delight in acquainting themselves with plants, 

 either for enrichment or amusement ; but emphatically to such persons as wish to 

 study the nature and history of vegetation in the garden, where alone they can 

 hope these features to be permanently impressed on the memory, the Botanical 

 Pocket Dictionary has claims which nothing at present existing or likely to be 

 issued can supplant or diminish. 



JOSEPH PAXTON 



Chatswoeth, 



July, 1840. 



