PREFACE xi 
The writer desires to express most grateful acknowledgment to 
Professor James G. Needham for helpful suggestions as to the 
plan of the book and reading of the manuscript; to Professor 
Karl M. Wiegand for reading, criticism, and amendment of the text 
while in proof; and to Miss Lela A. Gross of the Editorial De- 
partment of the New York State Agricultural College for reading 
the proof. 
The writer has attempted — not very.successfully — to make the 
terms of the descriptive text somewhat less technical and easier 
for the general reader to understand than that of the botanies; but 
one who makes even a modest effort in that direction soon realizes 
the difficulties, for, after all, technical terms are exact, and no 
paraphrase, however carefully defined, can be made so fit. “Seeds” 
are often mentioned by that term, because it is the only one used 
by the seed merchant and the farmer, to whom, also, any capsular 
fruit is likely to be a “pod.” Of the common names given, the 
writer has in every case selected for a heading the one considered to 
be in widest and most common use for the plant described. 
A few paragraphs of the introductory chapters are rearranged 
from some lessons about weeds which were furnished by the writer 
for the Leaflets of the Home Nature-Study Course, while serving as 
Assistant in the Bureau of Nature-Study at Cornell University. 
These leaflets, however, are now out of print. To make a book 
that would be helpful to any one who loves and grows plants, and 
must combat weeds in order to help them to grow, has been for 
many years the writer’s strongest wish. In the hope that it may 
be one of the few wishes that “come true,” this book is given to the 
public. 
ADA E. GEORGIA. 
Irgaca, New York, 
July, 1914. 
