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 51 



PREFACE. 



Dr. M. T. Masters' work on 'Vegetable Teratology ' 

 was issued by the Ray Society in 1869. It was a 

 decided success, and a standard work on the subject 

 for many years. It is certainly now out of date, as 

 the mode of treatment of the subject-matter is too 

 much that of an encyclopaedia, and too little that of a 

 scientifically-arranged, connected account of plant- 

 abnormalities. Moreover, it is naturally at this date 

 exceedingly incomplete, for, during the last forty- 

 five years our knowledge of abnormal structures has 

 increased enormously. 



The present work is intended to present the subject 

 in more scientific fashion, and in quite a new form, 

 both as regards the mode of treatment and the large 

 number of additional facts. While this is the case, 

 the writer is certainly, in some degree, indebted to 

 Dr. Masters for facts and ideas, and to him will 

 always attach the honour of being the pioneer on the 

 subject in this country. 



In the present work the subject-matter is treated 

 of under the headings of the various main organs or 

 parts of the plant, e. g. root, stem, leaf, and flower, 

 with the exception of the section on Fungi, where the 

 matter is classified under the types of abnormality, 

 as is the case with the whole of Masters' work. At 

 the end of each important section a bibliography of 



