PUBLISHER’S ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST 
EDITION. 
——— 
Wuen the publisher of this work issued Mrs. Lincoln’s 
“Familiar Lectures on Botany,” the science was taught in few 
Seminaries of learning, even of the highest grade. Since that 
period, (1829,) Botany, as a regular branch of instruction, has 
been introduced not only into Colleges and Female Institutions 
of the first rank, but into many schools of a more humble cha- 
racter. Nearly ten thousand copies of the Lectures, within 
little more than three years, have been called for in various 
parts of the United States, from New England to the South. 
Teachers in Alabama, Mississippi, and as far west as the 
Capital of the Arkansas Territory, have by means of this work 
instructed themselves in Botany, and thus have been enabled 
to unfold to their pupils the rich treasures of the vegetable 
Kingdom, which abound in that region of flowers. In many 
schools in Ohio, Illinois, and in Canada, Mrs. Lincoln’s Lec- _ 
tures on Botany are now in common use. 
While it is admitted that Botany is a study which alsin: 
ces to the mind a variety of new and delightful ideas, and trains 
it to habits of logical reasoning, it is also found not to be be- 
vond the comprehension of children; but, on the contrary, ca- 
pable of interesting them in a high degree, when rendered 
simple by a familiar style and suitable illustrations. Teachers 
of Common Schools, becoming sensible of the power of this 
science to awaken the minds of their young pupils, have begun 
to inquire for a suitable book to put into their hands; sucha 
one as with respect to style and price should be adapted to this 
purpose. While requiring a cheap volume, they at the same 
time need one comprehending an outline of the science, and es- 
pecially a sufficient number of generic and specific decerncis 
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