BOTANICAL ANALYSIS. 



1. li The application of the rules of Systematic Botany 

 to the natural pi int, in order to ascertain its affinities, place, 

 name, &c., is called botanical analysis. 



2. In order to be in a proper state for this kind of ex- 

 amination, plants should be in full blossom, and fresh, that 

 is, not withered or decayed. A good lens is requisite for the 

 examination of the minute parts of the structure, or of the 

 flower. 



3. The analysis of plants is a constant object of purs 'it 

 with the practical botanist. Without this exercise, the 

 study of authors will be of little avail. A more accurate and 

 useful knowledge of a plant can be acquired in a few minutes, 

 by a careful examination of the living specimen, or even of 

 the dried, than by committing to memory the most elaborate 

 descriptions found in books. During the flowering month, 

 the learner will often in his walks meet with plants in blos- 

 som, with which he is yet unacquainted. And he who is duly 

 interested in his pursuit, will by no means fail to seize and 

 analyze each specimen while the short hour of its bloom may. 

 last, and to store his memory with the knowledge of its names, 

 habits, and uses. Thus, in a few seasons, or even in one, he 

 will have grown familiar with nearty, or cjuitc, every species 

 of plants in his vicinity. 



4. Let us now suppose the pupil in possession of a 

 specimen of an unknown plant in full blossom. In order to 

 study it by the aid of authors, a point immediately requisite 

 is its nun 3. Now, having learned b} r examination the organ- 

 ic and physiological structure of the flower, leaves, stems, &c, 

 the experienced botanist, who has at his command the char- 

 acters of all the Natural Families, will at once determine to 

 which of them the plant belongs.''' 



5. But this is not to fce expected of the pupil who is 

 supposed to be yet, in a measure, unacquainted with the char- 

 acters of the orders. He must be guided to the place which 



his specimen holds in the classification, by a longer course 

 I* 



