PREFACE. Vll 



but because I know how troublesome and difficult it 

 is for the tyro, in the commencement of his studies, 

 to search through numerous works for a description 

 of the method of preparation, which he may chance 

 to need at the time. Here at least I can promise 

 him, that he will find the most important facts con- 

 tained in nuce, to the saving of both his time and 

 patience, And this is the more necessary, because a 

 novice's library is not usually too well stocked w 7 ith 

 books of reference ; and, besides, he is not always in a 

 situation to consult larger and more important works, 

 bearing on the subjects treated of here. 



Therefore I launch this little volume into the 

 world, with the earnest wish that its perusal may be 

 of service in lightening the labours and smoothing 

 the path of more than one self-taught botanist. 



Joh. Nave. 



The reader will observe, that the chapters into which 

 the book is divided, are of very unequal proportions, 

 and that the greatest prominence is given to the Algae, 

 which occupy quite one-half of the w 7 hole work. This 

 is owdng to the extraordinary variety of form and 

 habit, which characterises this family, calling for 

 numerous descriptions of methods of preparation 

 which need not to be repeated. 



J. N. 



