XX 
INTRODUCTION. 
When the beginner has a leaf or any part of a plant not in flower, he may ascertain, by 
turning to the Introduction to the Natural System (p. 1051.), to which of the three grand 
divisions of the vegetable kingdom it belongs, and may learn other particulars, according to 
circumstances which it is unnecessary to detail. Without the flower, he will not be able by 
the Natural System to determine the name of a plant ; but, what is often much more 
important, with a very small portion of any part of a plant he will be able to discover some- 
thing of its nature, an advantage which does not belong to the System of Linnaeus. 
The classification or arrangement of plants is made by botanists with a view to two 
objects : the first, to facilitate the discovery of their names, and thus to know them 
individually ; the second, to give general ideas respecting their natures, and thus to know 
them as belonging to large masses or groups. Hitherto, no system has been discovered 
which has attained both these objects in an equal degree of perfection ; but the Linnean 
Arrangement has made the greatest advances in teaching how to discover the names of 
plants, and the Jussieuean in teaching us their natures, and how to recognise them as belong- 
ing to certain masses or groups. In order that the student may acquire both these kinds of 
knowledge, we have given both arrangements. We have begun with the Linnean, not only 
as being best adapted for beginners, but because it is necessary to know how to discover the 
name of a plant, as well as to be able practically to recognise a number of plants, before 
attempting to know their natures, or to combine them in masses or groups. 
" The standing objection to botany," says White of Selbourne, " has always been, that 
it is a pursuit that amuses the fancy and exercises the memory without improving the mind 
or advancing any real knowledge ; and where the science is carried no farther than a mere 
systematic classification, the charge is but too true. But the botanist, who is desirous of 
wiping oiF this aspersion, should be by no means content with a list of names ; he should 
study plants philosophically, — should investigate the laws of vegetation, — should examine 
the powers and virtues of eflficacious herbs, — should promote their cultivation, and graft the 
gardener, the planter, and the husbandman, on the phytologist : not that system is by any 
means to be thrown aside ; without system the field of nature would be a pathless wilder- 
ness ; but system should be subservient to, and the main object of, our pursuit." 
" After all that has been effected, or is likely to be accomplished hereafter," Professor Lindley 
observes, " there will always be more difficulty in acquiring a knowledge of the Natural 
System of Botany than of the Linnean. The latter skims only the surface of things, and 
leaves the student in the fancied possession of a sort of information which it is easy enough 
to obtain, but which is of little value when acquired ; the former requires a minute inves- 
tigation of every part and every property known to exist in plants, but when understood has 
conveyed to the mind a store of information, of the utmost use to man, in every station of 
life. Whatever the difficulties may be of becoming acquainted with plants according to this 
method, they are inseparable from botany, which cannot be usefully studied without encoun- 
tering them." * 
The History of Plants comprehends every thing relating to their use in the arts, or in any way 
as connected with man, with animals, or with civilisation. The Geography of Plants relates 
to the coimtries in which they are indigenous or acclimated, and to the soils and situations in 
which they grow or may be grown. Every thing essential in relation to these points will, 
as we have already stated, be found after the name of each species in the text, after tlie 
name of the genus in the notes below, under the natural order to which the genus belongs 
in the Natural Arrangement (Part II. p. 1051.), in the Table of Synonymes (p. 1108.), 
or in the Glossary (p. 1094.). 
The General Index (p. 1143.) contains not only the names of the genera, and of the 
classes and orders of both systems, but those of all the remarkable species, and the more 
important systematic and British synonymes both of genera and species. The various 
names being included in the same alphabet, this Index may therefore be consulted as a 
Dictionary of Plants. 
* Synopsis of the British Flora, arranged according to the Natural Orders, &c., pref. p. xi. 
