PREFACE. 



The view given in tliese Letters of the nature of 

 Trees^ although, in the main at least, the same as 

 that first set forth by De la Hire, as long ago as 

 1708, and subsequently held by Darwin, Mirbel, Du 

 Petit-Thouars, Gaudichaud, and others, differs widely 

 from that commonly received among us. It neither 

 represents the popular belief, nor does it accord 

 with the recognised doctrines of the schools. To the 

 popular mind, indeed, it may be said to be nearly 

 unknown, while heretofore it has failed to secure the 

 sanction of the greater number of our scientific 

 botanists. 



