ADVERTISEMENT. 
Ten years have now passed since The Magazine of Botany first appeared; 
various similar works have been relinquished during that period ; the field 
for which it is adapted is covered with publications of a like order, and yet 
it retains that high standing to which public estimation had long ago 
elevated it. The Author cannot, therefore, desire a more flattering 
testimonial that his endeavours are approved. 
The character of the Embellishments of this work has at length been 
brought almost as near to perfection as it is possible to attain. It is, 
indeed, suggested by some of our friends, that they are occasionally too 
beautiful ; and that the plants they represent are not ordinarily so 
handsome as they are here depicted. Such a view, however, is a mistaken 
one : it arises from a rule which we adopt in the choice of subjects for 
our drawings, and which is, to have them prepared, whenever practicable, 
from specimens that are very favourably grown. 
We follow this plan for two reasons :■ — First, because a well-cultivated 
state of a plant is the most accurate criterion of its merits ; and secondly, 
on account of the stimulus it gives to those who see our plates, to grow 
their specimens to the hke excellence. So far, then, from being disap- 
pointed, when they notice the superiority of any specimen we figure to that 
which they may produce, they should be rather incited to practise a better 
system of treatment. 
