iv Preface. 



tem ; and botanists began to form various plans of classification. The 

 dawn gradually brightened, until, with the advent of Linnaeus, the sun 

 arose above the horizon, darkness and obscurity vanished, and Botany 

 became a science. This prince of Naturalists, who, like Sir Walter Scott, 

 was not remarkable for any proofs of genius when young, turned, to use Dr. 

 Smith's language, " by his magic pen, the wilds of Lapland into fairy fields, 

 and the animals of Sweden came to be classed by him, as they went to 

 Adam, in the garden of Eden, to receive each his particular name." Jus- 

 sieu follows in the next rank, and would probably have taken the first, 

 had not the Northern Light preceded him. America has not been behind- 

 hand in her contributions to this science, and time would fail us to tell of 

 Purshe, Nuttall, Torrey, Eaton, Gray, Paine, &c, many of whom are now 

 laboring in the field. And we contribute our mite- in the same cause, by 

 making the labors of others known. 



During the progress of the work, we purpose to take up the most valu- 

 able plants, either for use or ornament, of our own and other countries. 

 Together with the information we possess, we shall consult the standard 

 works on Chemistry, Botany, and Medicine, combining every useful item 

 of knowledge ; and without lessening its value, present it in a concise 

 and pleasing form. The properties of each, more especially the medi- 

 cinal, will be confirmed, in a number of instances, by personal experience. 

 To this will be added its history, its meaning as an emblem in the lan- 

 guage of flowers ; and poetry, either original or selected, from the gems 

 of the children of song. It is designed to be eminently popular in its ap- 

 plication, and we think there is enough of that which is stranger than 

 fiction about it, to render it in no ordinary degree interesting and in- 

 structive. 



