PREFACE 
A Preface, sometimes, contains the only good character a 
book ever enjoys; and that a volume like the present, may not 
be cruelly s^nt forth without testimonials, the Author is in- 
clined to say something- in its favour. No one is, surely, more 
familiar with the merits and demerits of a book than its writer. 
But the censorious world will not admit this ; or it will question 
his sincerity. Seeing this is the case, it is better to resort to a 
covert commendation ; — to praise the subject in lieu of the 
work. 
Here, then, the Author feels that he has full scope. The 
world itself is subservient to his views. His is the Vegetable 
kingdom the most beautiful of the three;— his department 
in it, the very essence of its attractions. The mineral boasts 
not half its colours, without the aid of art -.---its natural lines 
are harsh and angular. The animal kingdom includes ele- 
gant outline and brilliant hues; but also an immeasurable 
drawback ;— it has a vitality, yielding more of evil than good; 
hence power alone can impel it to the accommodation of our 
views. Not so the Vegetable. All is beauty in spontaneous 
display ; in simple subservience to man ; beauty in its incom- 
prehensible number of tints : in its incomprehensible variety 
of forms ; it even breathes a sweetness through the incumbent 
atmosphere. 
