32 PREFACE. 



It may be expected, perhaps, that in enumerating 

 those who have contributed to a knowledge of the 

 natural productions of our State, I should not omit 

 a notice of Lawson's " History of North Carolina," 

 the first printed work devoted to this subject. But, 

 besides that this book is now nearly inaccessible, 

 there being but a single copy in the State, we cannot 

 always recognize the objects described in it, the ap- 

 plication of Indian names being lost, and that of 

 English names rather variable and uncertain. So 

 far as I have been able to authenticate species no- 

 ticed by Lawson and other old journalists quoted in 

 Dr. Hawks's " History of North Carolina," I have 

 done so in the April number (1860) of the North 

 Carolina University Magazine. The information 

 upon the natural history of the State contained in 

 their works is now of no scientific or economical 

 value, and their errors in statement are not few. 



In the following arrangement of our Woody Plants, 

 I shall not be governed by established scientific 

 rules, but shall adapt it, as well as I can, to the com- 

 prehension of those who know nothing at all of 

 Botany as a science. I hope, in this manner, so to 

 present our Trees, Shrubs, and Climbers, that the 

 most, if not all of them, shall be easily recognized 

 with very small expenditure of patience and study. 

 The well-known popular names applied to most of 

 the species and genera will greatly facilitate the suc- 

 cess of this arrangement. 



The above-mentioned Divisions will be subdivided 



