100 . NuttaWs Introduction to Botany. 



books, therefore, it is to be feared, instead of facilitating the 

 progress of the student, will only tend to bewilder and dis- 

 gust him : and that too, where there is no real difficulty. 



It is not always the case, that, those who are the best quali- 

 fied to furnish elementary treatises, possess the requisite self- 

 denial to pause in their career, for the humble task of writing 

 vade-mecums ; and accordingly, we are not always indebted 

 to this class of authors for our Introductions. This conside- 

 ration greatly enhances the pleasure we feel, in having put 

 into our hands the book before us, — coming as it does, from 

 one, whose rank among the first Botanists of the age is so con- 

 spicuous ; and we are persuaded, that its accomplished author 

 will receive a rich reward for his labor, in that increased in- 

 terest, which his work will create, in favour of the pursuit to 

 which he has so long, and so successfully devoted himself. 



The following remarks we extract from Mr. NutalFs pre- 

 face. 



" Nearly all the elementary works on Botany, extant, are 

 derived from the Philosophia Botanica of Linnaeus, a work 

 of great labor and utility to those who would wish to make 

 themselves masters of this fascinating branch of natural know- 

 ledge. Its technical character, however, often proves appall- 

 ing to many who would willingly become acquainted with the 

 characters of plants, did any easier route present itself. The 

 first and most natural inquiry concerning plants, is the nature, 

 and character of those beautiful objects, we call the flowers ; 

 these, by various interesting qualities, recommend them- 

 selves to every one. Their brilliant colors, beautiful forms, 

 fragrant odors, and delightful association with the various 

 seasons of the year, with the promise of fruits and of harvests, 

 all combine to give them an importance, which no other part 

 of the plant possesses. To indulge this shorter route to the 

 knowledge of plants as a science, after the manner of Ros- 

 seau's delightful Letters on Botany, is the object of the pres- 

 ent volume." 



Contrary to the usual practice, Mr. N. does not commence 

 with the nomenclature of Botany ; but proceeds, immediately, 

 to the consideration of those more pleasing, as well as more 

 important parts of plants, viz. their flowers : by means of 

 which, we are enabled to distinguish them from each other, 

 and to assign them then proper places in an arrangement. 

 The first seven chapters are devoted to the description of those 

 seven great classes of flowers, the Liliaceous, the Cruciform, 



