Introduction, 



connecting link between Botany and Geology, we hope to make 

 interesting to the inquirer in both these sciences. 



As to the engravings which each number will contain, we 

 intend a somewhat different course from that pursued during 

 the past year. Instead of an indiscriminate selection, deter- 

 mined only by taste or fancy, we expect to make the engra- 

 vings serve the cause of the science and facilitate the progress 

 of the reader, by giving the figures of such plants as shall 

 answer the purpose of illustrating the order which forms the 

 subject of each successive article. For instance, whenever 

 the Natural Order Ranunculacea, shall be the theme of our re- 

 marks, we shall illustrate its general features by figures of some 

 species of the genera comprised in that order, and shall add 

 representations of the peculiarities of structure which are the 

 marks of distinction between it and others. It may, in doing 

 this, be necessary to offer a second time figures of plants which 

 have been already described ; but as far as possible this will 

 be avoided, and whenever it does occur, the description will 

 be new and different in its arrangement. 



The highly interesting subject of Vegetable Physiology, 

 inseparable as it is from a competent knowledge of the Natu- 

 ral System, will form an important part of our consideration, 

 and we believe that by proper illustrations and explanations, 

 we shall be able to render it both instructive and enter- 

 taining. 



Into the subordinate details of our proposed plans we do 

 not consider it necessary to enter. So far as the minor mat- 

 ters of taste or elegance of embellishment are concerned, we 

 may promise, that while they do not interfere with the general 

 scope of our graver and more important labors, they shall yet 

 receive a degree of attention sufficient to render them entirely 

 satisfactory. 



In conclusion, we venture to hope that none of our readers, 

 especially those of the gentle sex, if any such we are so for- 

 tunate as to possess, will be led to imagine, from any thing 



