TO TEACHERS. 
In offering this book as an assistance to Instructed, the Author 
hopes to have rendered the first principles of the Science of Botany, 
of easy attainment ; and that Instructed, in the developement of the 
work, will find such methodical arrangements, and simple illustra- 
tions, as may render it easy for pupils, and agreeable to themselves. 
The most proper time lor commencing botanical studies, seems to 
be that of the opening of flowers in the spring ; though, should cir- 
cumstances render it desirable to commence in winter, every assist- 
ance thought necessary, is offered by drawings, and the representa- 
tions of dissected plants. The arrangement of subjects might be 
altered in pursuing the study, without the aid of natural flowers. 
The second part, which treats of the various organs of plants, the 
formation of buds, and other subjects connected with vegetable 
physiology ; the fourth part, which gives the history of science, with 
the distinctions in the kingdoms of nature, might be studied to ad- 
vantage, before attending much to the principles of classification 
which are mostly illustrated in the first and third parts. 
The Botanical Class in this Institution, has for some years past 
been composed of about forty pupils.* The method pursued in teach- 
ing, has been very laborious, as the want of suitable books, rendered it 
necessary for the Author of these Lectures, who has taken charge of 
the class, to devote much time and attention, in gleaning from diflerent 
writers, such facts and principles as would illustrate the science, and 
make it interesting to the pupils. This work contains the substance 
of what has been thus collected, and the method in which those facts 
and principles have been illustrated and arranged. A brief view of 
the manner in which I have proceeded in teacliing, may be satisfac- 
tory to those about to commence the science. 
On the first meeting of the class, after some explanation as to the na- 
ture of the study they are about to commence, each member is presented 
with a flower for analysis, The flower selected is always a simple one, 
exhibiting in a conspicuous manner the different organs of fructification ; 
the lily and tulip are both very proper for this purpose. The names 
of the different parts of the flower are then explained, each pupil being 
directed to dissect and examine her flower as we proceed. After noti- 
cing the parts of fructification, the pupils are then prepared to under- 
stand the principles on which the artificial classes are founded, and to 
trace the plant to its proper class, order, tec. At each step, they are re- 
quired to examine their flowers, and to answer simultaneously the ques- 
*The summer term after the publication of the first edition of this work, the 
number was increased to 70. 
