Trees, Shrubs and Vines 



in tabulated regularity, as in the dead herbarium, but 

 disposed with reference to their contrasts and harmonies, 

 and showing their place in nature — ^miniature landscape 

 scenes, with nature's spirit and atmosphere, more edu- 

 cating than the completest scientific arboretum in the 

 world. Art has here conspired with nature only to 

 show nature at her best. 



This work is designed for the uninstructed nature- 

 lover, who wishes help in learning the multitudinous 

 forms of landscape growth all around him, without the 

 labor of preliminary training in botanical science. It 

 will be found of great convenience, moreover, to the 

 more experienced botanist ; for, in scientific works, the 

 classification being based upon the details of the blos- 

 som, no help is there afforded for identifying a species 

 except in the short flowering period. But almost every 

 tree, and a large number of shrubs and vines, by the 

 groupings of this book, can be learned simply from the 

 leaf and other features of growth, and it therefore avails 

 for fully half the year ; and by the Analytical Keys every 

 species can be more quickly found than any botanist can 

 do it by the current method, even with the flower in 

 hand. 



No criticism is here intended of the prevailing 

 method of classification by the often microscopic re- 

 semblances in flower and fruit : it is not only the most 

 valid system as yet devised, but is indispensable where 

 thousands of plants are concerned. The following work, 

 however, excludes four-fifths of our entire flora from con- 

 sideration, and a much simpler grouping is feasible. 

 Moreover, the trained botanist regards the matter fi^org 



14 



