PEEFAOE. 



Ik presenting this volume to the public, the author 

 feels compelled to explain its design. The book is an 

 outgrowth of the wants of her own class-room, and was 

 first used there, without any thought of publication. 

 Finding the primary works too primary, and, therefore, 

 not awakening the proper interest — the more advanced 

 too scientific, thus at the very outset disheartening the 

 pupil — she prepared these Lessons, endeavoring to com- 

 bine simplicity of diction with some degree of technical 

 and scientific knowledge, thereby leading the pupil gra- 

 dually on to where he should get such glimpses of the 

 wonders and beauties of Vegetable Physiology, and all 

 the cognate subjects that make up the science of Botany, 

 as to become willing to go with earnest zeal into the ad- 

 vanced works of Wood and Gray. 



And here she would express her indebtedness to Pro- 

 fessor Wood for some admirable cuts, the perfection of 

 which is unrivaled, being prepared by himself, who is 

 at the same time botanist and artist, l^o student should 

 be without Wood's " Plant Record," a most valuable aid 

 in his study of Plant Analysis. 



