LADIES’ BOTANY. 
69 
confessed, that there is something seriously alarming in the mass of 
preliminary knowledge which, it would appear, has to be acquired 
before any perceptible progress can be made. 
But on looking at the subject a little more closely, we find, that of 
the technical names employed, only a small number are realty neces¬ 
sary in the beginning; that minute parts are little consulted in prac¬ 
tice, however much they may be in theory; and that the arrange¬ 
ment of Botanists are so perfect, that no more inconvenience is ex¬ 
perienced from the number of species, than in any other branch of 
Natural History.” 
In the present work, the study is divested of many real, and the 
greater part of the imaginary difficulties, and is rendered an amusing 
and pleasant relaxation. The great obstacle to its falling into many 
hands is its price, and though with all our hearts we wish it every 
success, we hope a cheaper edition may be devised: not that we con¬ 
sider this very dear, for in its present style we know not how it could 
be afforded much cheaper, but because we regret that any persons, and 
young gardeners in particular, should be deprived of so pleasing and 
easy a method of studying a science of so much importance to them. 
The course to be pursued by those who would push their inquiries 
beyond the information in this book, should be of this nature. They 
should read some introduction to Botany, in which the modern views 
of structure and of vital action are well explained ; (perhaps not one 
equals, certainly none exceeds that written by the Dr. and reviewed 
by us in Vol. II. p. 129 of our Hort. Reg.) they should make them¬ 
selves familiar with technical terms, which, although avoided in the 
letters of this work, cannot be dispensed with in works of a more 
exact and scientific- character: they may at the same time perfect 
themselves in a knowledge of Natural Orders, by gathering the wild 
plants that are within their reach, comparing them with each other, 
and with the characters assigned to them in scientific works. 
Having thus provided themselves with a considerable amount of 
fundamental knowledge, they may apply themselves to the study of 
the Natural System in its great features. They will then, and not 
till then, be able to appreciate the various modifications of organiza¬ 
tion that connect one tribe of plants with another, and to understand 
the infinite wisdom, and beautiful simplicity of design which are so 
visible in the vegetable world ; thejust appreciation of which, through 
countless gradations of form, structure, and modes of existence, it 
should be the constant aim of the Botanist to demonstrate. 
Notwithstanding all that we have advanced in favour of this work, 
it still appears necessary to extract a sufficient portion for a specimen 
