INTRODUCTION. 



At the commencement of the second year's existence of this 

 work, under auspices somewhat different from those by which 

 it has hitherto been governed, there is perhaps some propriety 

 in saying a few words to those who may read it, respecting its 

 conduct in future. As is announced by the publisher, a change 

 in the editorial arrangement has been effected, in regard to the 

 judiciousness, of which it does not become the present writer to 

 speak. He indulges the hope, however, that the interest of the 

 work will be at least fully sustained, and that whatever repu- 

 tation it may now possess, will not be diminished in his hands. 

 It is also hoped, that in consideration of the assistance which has 

 been promised from abler pens than his own, of certain new 

 features which he proposes to introduce, and of the firm foun- 

 dation on which, in other respects, the work has now been 

 placed, that it may increase in popularity as well as in literary 

 and scientific value. Upon a sufficiently careful inspection of 

 the foregoing numbers, the Editor is convinced that a method, 

 considerably different from that already pursued, may be 

 adopted with enlarged benefit both to its usefulness and inter- 

 est ; and that some branches of the science, not hitherto entered 

 upon, may be discussed with advantage. An unconnected 

 collection of isolated facts, theories, descriptions and explana- 

 tions, however entertaining for the moment, is of little perma- 

 nent use to any one who wishes to become a botanist, or in- 

 deed to attain even a tolerable degree of excellence in any 

 scientific pursuit whatever. The nature of all sciences is pro- 



