The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-28 00:00:00

NEW EDITION of LINDLEY'S SCHOOL BOTANY.

In dewy eve, price U. &1.,

SCIIOOL BOTANY;
Or, the Bridal ENTS of BOTANICAL SCIENCE.
By .101 IN LINDLEY, 1'.11.D., F.lt.S.,
Profemor of Botany in University College, London.
A New Edition : with Numerous Alterations and nearly
Four Hundred Illustrations.
This work was origholly prepared, bp haste, to meet a regulation
of the Criivendty of London, by which it was required of ill student.,
tout, two years previously to promeding to their find degree, they
should be examined, among other subjects, in "The characters and
differences of the principal natural chimes and orders of plants be-
longing to the Flora of Europe, in the botaniud classification of De
Candolle."
The obvions purpose of this regulation was to make young men
acquainted with the name and properties of the vegetation that
surrounds them; so that, after receiving what is called a liberal
education, they might not be thrown upon the world, ignorant of
the name, at least, of the commonest plants of their own country.
In the opinion of the author, the measure was calculated to enact a
real good, and to supply a wide gap in the common routine of a
school, where it i 4 most desirable that some natural history should be
Introduced, if it be only to relieve the tedium of the leas attractive
studies to which young persons are nem-a:wily subjected.
But it was oleo important for the sake of its substantial utility.
There may be a difference of opinion as to the advantage of spending
much time upon the study of botany ; but there Is one opinion only
as to the importance of know ing the names of the plant.. of which man
has to make we, or which he is continually meeting with. There is
not at the present day a perm of any intelligence, ignorant of such
things, who does not regret that some portion of his youth should nut
have been devoted to this kind of inquiry.
The lawaetahire gentleman who put himself to considerable trouble
and no small expenee to carry a each of Hornbeam wad from Florence
to lonikm, would have been aived the exertion had he known that
the Hornbeam grew In abundance on his own estate; and it may be
safely asserted that every one of that celebrated court party which I
dissevered a prodigysin the beautiful tree in Windsor Park, would
have been glad if their early education had spared them the mortifica.
thou of ;corning from Lori M. that the tree in question was only the
Spanish Chestnut.
Whatever the future intentions of a student of botany may be, it is
Indispensable that the first step to be taken should be that of gaining
an acquaintance with the oammon plants of his own country. In the
absence of that, he cannot make a single move in advance. Ile must
first master the rudiments of the science, and toaster them correctly.
This little took has been prepared forthe purpose of enabling him to
do so. It containrall that it is necessary to know in order to make a
fair beginning, and it ineludeono more; sac that if any one should have
the patience to master the whole contents of the volume, he would
then be in a position to carry his inquiries onwards with ease. But it
is not really necessary to become acquainted with all the plants here
mentioned.
The reason why ro many species are introduced, which are or
importance, Is to enable the teacher to obtain at lewd some part of
them to illustrate his teaching. Local circumstances and especially
our uncertain season, will always render it difficult to procure every
thing here mentioned; but no conceivable circumstances can, in this
country, offer impediments to the examination of a Large part.
In selecting the subjects with which the stude^t is to be made
acquainted, than have been generally chosen which are within any
man's much ; anti to render the acquisition of them more easy, the
vulgar moues are added. .t very small sum of money will enable
every schoolmaster to cultivate the whole in a garden, where they
may be constantly at hand.
In framing the technical characters of genera and species, all the
more minute distinctions, the detection of which requires the aid of a
microecope, have been intentionally disregarded ; and attention is more
especially called to those which are obvious enough to be observed by
any one having a pocket lens.
Which of the European natural orders I regard as the "pris-
e 'pal," will be apparent, from the prominence given here to certain
• rural orders beyond others. The teacher is not, however, mora-
ine. acted altogether to omit those which are stated to be comparatively
anise. tportant. The wisest course will be to make the students
thorc, uglily acquainted, in the first instance, with the natural orders
which arc marked from I. to LXXIII., and then to explain more
briefly , 'he differences of those to which no numbers are prefixed.
In con elusion, the teacher Is particularly recommended to takeoffs
that, in m edition toe small penknife, each student is provided with a
sof about .
a balf-inch.focua, and a few quires of pager ;
the former
pocket len .
o assist him examining, and the latter in deying, the
fresh spasm
ens of plants daily brought before him. There is no
method so ce rtain the latter, to accustom young persons to esti-
mate married,. the differences between one plant and another ; ond,
no one will think of teaching Botany, without au
it is presumed,
' frosts specimens, which he mar distribute among
ample supply
• purpoae of being examined and studied at leisure.
his class, for the
ss to study botany, unless the. provision is made
Ind it is writ
for the acquisition of those habits of obsarvation which render
natural history at pe, aullarly useful as a branch of mental training.
When students do not enjoy the advantages of a competent
a will he to put this book into the hands of an
teacher, their best Plc.
4 to induce him to furnish them weekly with
intelligent gardener, an
Ned in it. At home they can compare the
the plants that are nan
ay find with the plants theniudves, and this
definitions which they m
kind of practice is, of , =era, the most certain to lead to advan-
tageolia results.
in the first edition have been
None of the woodenta em PloYed
I introduced on this occasion. Experience shows that, for purposes
of teaching, it Is indispensable 'hat as much accuracy as is attainable
should be ohnereed in preparing the illustrations. To the untrained
eye plants are too much alike in reality; ill executed. or much
diminished, woodcut. Increase 11. a resemblance, and uently
perplex more than Instruct. The cuts now employed it is
hoped, render it Impossible that any mistake should be made by
Ivan the moat inexperienced as to the Manta to which they belong.
The facilities, indeed, offered to maid, by Mr. Paitner's Glypho-
graphic proems, or analogous modes of engraving, which hoen
chiefly employed on this occasion, leave littlo to desire re the score
of accuracy.
Unsrersily College, London.
cowmen.
CnArrun L—OF PLANTS IN GENERAL.'
IL—CLAWES 01' PLANTS.
lII.—OF THE SUBDIVISIONS OP E.700D/IL
IV.--OF TRALAaIIFLOBAL EXOCENa
V.—OF CALYCIFLOILIL EXOOENS.
VI.—OF COROLLIELORAL EXOGENK.
VII.-0F MONOCHLAIIITDEOC9 F.100M(9.
• VIII.—OF ENDOOENS.
J.X.—OF CRYPTOOAMS, or AMGEN&
Bradbury &Evans, 90, 119040 rest.