PREFACE. 



engravings ; and this circumstance, together with the important one of all the specific 

 names being literally translated, will, by giving the meaning of almost all the terms used in 

 botanical description, in a great measure supersede the necessity of a grammar of botany 

 to the young gardener. The literal translation of the specific names may be considered as, 

 to a certain extent, teaching him the Latin language, and the etymologies of the generic 

 names will give him the meaning of a number of Greek words. The species of every 

 genus, where numerous, are subdivided into sections and subsections, which are shortly 

 defined by specific characters ; and so copious are the descriptive particulars after each 

 species, that we will venture to assert that the genus to which any plant belongs being 

 known, the specific name, in a majority of cases, may be discovered by this Catalogue without 

 the aid of a Species Plantarum. 



In the popular descriptions of the Natural Orders, the medicinal properties and econo- 

 mical uses are slightly noticed ; and the soil, propagation, and general treatment of the 

 different groups indicated ; so that this part of the work, in our opinion the most valuable 

 collection of botanical facts that has ever been brought into so small a space, may be con- 

 sidered an epitome of the history, uses, and culture of the whole vegetable kingdom. Who- 

 ever has a sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge of plants and of vegetable culture 

 to generalise on these subjects, will find in this Natural Arrangement the rudiments of every 

 thing that can be said or written on botany, gardening, and agriculture. 



Enumerations of those species which are adapted for culture in the open air in Britain, 

 or in corresponding climates, with an estimate of the quantity of ground which each order 

 or tribe would occupy, are given in the Natural Arrangement, with a view to the form- 

 ation of arboretums or botanic flower-gardens ; but, for an explanation of this improvement, 

 and of its value to the practical gardener, we must refer to the body of the work. (p. 491.) 

 The same proportionate enumerations will prove useful in contriving the size of the different 

 drawers, divisions, boxes, volumes, or pages, required for preserving a hortus siccus, or 

 collections of drawings, of engravings, of seeds, or of specimens of woods. 



The Supplement to the Linnean Arrangement (p. 467.) includes all the plants introduced 

 to Britain, and figured in English botanical works, up to February, 1830; and Additional 

 Supplements in continuation are intended to be printed from time to time, and sold sepa- 

 rately, or done up with new impressions of the body of the work. 



No further explanation appearing necessary in this Preface, it remains for the Editor to 

 state that the Linnean Arrangement and its Supplement are entirely the work of Mr. George 

 Don ; the Natural Arrangement is founded on that of Professor Lindley, with some 

 additions and alterations rendered necessary by the plan of this Catalogue ; and Dr. Gre- 

 vilee, the profound cryptogamist, assisted in arranging the Cryptogamia. Those who are 

 acquainted with the present state of botany, and with the botanists of this country, will allow 

 that three gentlemen better adapted for cooperating in producing a Catalogue like that now 

 submitted to the public are not to be found. All that the Editor claims for himself is the 

 plan of the work, which he certainly considers much superior to anything that has preceded 

 it. The literal translation of the specific names, the derivations of the generic names, the 

 indications of derivations, and, above all, the general descriptions of the Natural Orders, 

 will, he confidently expects, be found not only of great value in determining the names 

 of plants, and in recognising them at sight, both individually and in masses ; but in assisting 

 the botanical student and practical gardener to acquire some knowledge of their structure, 

 physiology, analogies, affinities, properties, uses, and culture. _ 



Bayswater, May, 1830. , - J. C. L. 



The first Additional Supplement, enumerating all the new plants introduced to Britain, or 

 made known there, with the scientific changes in their names, &c, up to February, 1832, 

 is now (August, 1832) published. In it, the genera are arranged alphabetically, for more 

 ready reference from the body of the work, and from the first Supplement (p. 467.) ; and also 

 to save the necessity of a second index. All the genera in the body of the work, and in 

 the first Supplement (p. 467.), to which there are any species added, or in which any altera- 

 tions are made, in the first Additional Supplement (p. 577. to p. 602.), are marked with a 

 star (*) ; and the same will be done, as future Additional Supplements are published. 



"Whoever wishes to ascertain the additions and improvements made subsequently to the 

 last Additional Supplement may consult the Gardener's Magazine; in which, under the 

 article which will be henceforth contained in every number, entitled, " Floricultural and 

 Botanical Notices of New Plants, and of Old Plants of Interest, supplementary to the latest 

 Editions of the Encyclopaedia of Plants, and of the Hortus Britdnnicus,^ will be found 

 the name of every plant newly introduced or originated, and of every recent improvement in 

 botanical nomenclature. 



J. C. L. 



Bayswater, August, 1832. 



