PREFATORY.

AGRICULTURE, in a broad and legitimate sense, being a comprehensive system of Natural Science-involving more especially a practical acquaintance with the useful portion of the Vegetable Creation, I have long thought it due to the Profession, and desirable in every point of view, that the young Farmers of the United States should acquire an exact knowledge of the Plants which it immediately concerns them to know; and that they should be enabled to designate, and treat of them, with the precision and methodical perspicuity which belong to scientific language and arrangement. Under this impression, and in the hope of promoting an object deemed so important, the present work has been compiled. In submitting it to those for whom it is more particularly intended, I am not unaware that its technical features are ill-suited to the notions of many plodding disciples of the old school of Agriculture, who despise every form of knowledge derivable from Books, and whose ideas never stray beyond the manual operations of the field and the barn-yard. It is scarcely probable, indeed, that any written treatise-though couched in the most familiar dialect-would obviate the objections, or conciliate the prejudices, of such antiquated tillers of the soil. My views, therefore, have not been directed to that unpromising quarter. I address myself to the youthful and aspiring Agriculturists of our country, who seek to elevate their noble Profession to its just rank among human pursuits,—and who feel that the exercise of intellect, as well as of muscle, is indispensable to the accomplishment of their purpose.

I have preferred to treat of the Plants, which it more immediately behoves the farmer to be acquainted with, according to the most approved method of our day, and in the language of Systematic Botany. By exhibiting as much of the classification, or frame-work of the Science, as is requisite to present the Genera and Species, here described, in their natural and relative positions, the Student will be enabled to comprehend their connection with the other portions of the System, and to examine them, as the Geologists say, in situ. In that process, he will necessarily have to learn something of their structure, and essential character; and that I should consider as an important advantage,-even if his researches should there terminate. His knowledge, however limited, will be established on a correct basis,—and will be always available in his intercourse with men of science: But, to those who may subsequently resolve upon a more extended acquaintance with the vegetable kingdom, such knowledge will be a clear gain, and a valuable preliminary step;-that step which, according to the proverb, is the only one which costs.

In adopting the machinery of Science-preferring the botanical to the popular names of plants, as well as arranging them in kindred groups-I have supposed that such a plan would be most conducive

to accuracy of conception,-and would, in fact, facilitate the investigation of their true character. By employing names, and phrases, which have an exclusive application, and a definite meaning, the study of plants is really simplified; and the knowledge acquired— being thereby communicable with more readiness and precision—is greatly enhanced in practical value. By using, every where, the same terms in the same sense, men of different regions, or districts, can be sure that they comprehend each other's meaning,- and may then discuss questions understandingly. When disputes arise, touching the merits or demerits of particular plants, both parties will have clear conceptions of the objects referred to, and will consequently have the advantage of knowing exactly what they are talking about-which is far from being always the case when they make use of a variable popular nomenclature.

It is a great mistake, in my opinion, to suppose that the significant language of our Science must necessarily be merged in the vernacular idiom, or degraded into a local patois, in order to adapt it to the capacities of intelligent practical men. An active intellect, I think, more readily acquires new terms, appropriate to a Science, than new meanings of old familiar words: and hence it is that most persons, as they advance in any department of knowledge, are apt to discard all equivocal terms, and to substitute those which are definite, technical and peculiar. Instead, therefore, of writing down to the level of boorish apprehension, I would rather see Agricultural works gradually written up to the scientific standard. I would have our young Farmers taught to appreciate the importance of scientific precision, and incited to take their appropriate position in the intellectual community.

In the present work, it is hoped and believed that with the aid of the copious Glossary, the Index of Common Names and Synonyms, and the other facilities annexed, there can be no difficulty in becoming familiar with the terms employed, nor in the investigation of the plants enumerated:* And the farmer who shall have accomplished that much, will find that he has obtained many new and interesting views of objects intimately connected with his Profession,-that he has acquired a capacity for observing and profiting by numerous processes and phenomena, in the vegetable economy, which had theretofore been unheeded, or imperfectly understood. A spirit of research will often be awakened, which, in itself, is an unfailing source of gratification to ingenuous minds,- and not unfrequently leads to important practical results.

The study of BOTANY, in its widest sensee-comprising, as it does, the entire vegetable creation,-will ever have its select votaries in those who can appreciate its manifold charms, and find their reward in the pleasures incident to the pursuit: But when regarded in a

As a convenient and satisfactory mode of acquiring the requisite Botanical knowledge and of keeping that knowledge always within reach, in case of forgetfulness-I would recommend to the young Farmer, the formation of a select Herbarium. containing authentic specimens-neatly prepared, and appropri ately labelled-of those plants which it is his interest to be acquainted with.Such a Collection could readily be obtained by every one who has the taste, or even the curiosity, to extend his information in that direction. It would afford instructive subjects for investigation, and comparison, in seasons of leisure; and the contents. being duly arranged, could be examined, or referred to. with the like facilities, and advantages, as attend the consultation of a Dictionary.

more limited and practical point of view, it may fairly challenge the attention even of the most inveterate Utilitarians. There are three aspects, or relations of the Science, in which its importance will scarcely be denied by the most penurious calculator of economical values: namely, 1. Agricultural Botany,-2. Medical Botany,— and 3. Artistical Botany, or the history of those plants which are employed, or afford materials, in the processes of the Arts and Manufactures. The Medical branch of the science has been often treated of, with something like system, by the Professional writers of Europe and America. The other two divisions less frequently, and with less method, in various Agricultural Journals, Cyclopaedias, and Mercantile Dictionaries. The attempt here made, is an Essay on the Agricultural branch,-or a systematic description of those Plants (both useful and pernicious) which more immediately interest American Farmers-especially those in the middle States of this Confederacy. The Botany of the Arts, whenever undertaken, will afford a highly interesting theme for some future laborer in this elegant department of Natural History.

In compiling this Farmer's Flora, I found it somewhat difficult to determine, satisfactorily, the line of demarcation between the Plants intitled to a place in it, and those which might properly be omitted. It may, perhaps, be thought by some, that the list is unnecessarily large, while others may be of opinion that there are species left out, which ought to have been inserted. My aim has been--not, certainly, to describe all the plants which an accomplished Agriculturist might very properly desire to know; but-to include those only (whether in the woodlands, the fields, or the kitchengarden,) of which no intelligent Farmer would willingly be ignorant. When he shall have made himself familiar with these, he can extend his acquaintance with the Vegetable Tribes, at pleasure, by having recourse to more general and comprehensive works: such, for example, as the Flora of North America by TORREY and GRAY,-or Prof. DE CANDOLLE'S Prodromus of a Natural System, comprising all the known forms of vegetation upon this terraqucous globe.

In my humble opinion, no Education can be deemed sufficient, without some acquaintance with the rudiments, or first principles, of Botanical Science-some rational knowledge of the vast and multiform creation around us, known as the Vegetable Kingdom. I consider such knowledge just as indispensable to a rightly instructed people, as any of the usual elementary branches of school learning. By this, however, I do not mean the smattering of a few obsolete terms, unconnected with any available ideas-which, in too many instances, passes under the imposing name of "BOTANY " but I do mean, that thorough conception of the general nature and relations of Plants, which may be acquired by the aid of such works as the Botanical Text-Book of Prof. A. GRAY. In all other employments, it is very properly expected that a workman shall not only be expert in the manipulations of his art, but shall also be well acquainted with the nature of his materials and I can perceive no good reason why it is not equally incumbent on a practical farmer to understand the true character of those plants, which it is his especial interest either to cultivate or to extirpate.

If our American Youths, who are being educated with a view to

Agricultural pursuits, were thoroughly instructed in the admirable Text-Book, above referred to, and were then required to make themselves botanically acquainted with that portion of the vegetable kingdom which annually demands their attention, on the farm,the Profession would speedily assume a new and engaging aspect. The labors of the field would be blended with the contemplation of facts and phenomena of the deepest interest to inquiring minds,— and Agriculture-instead of being shunned as an irksome drudgery -would be justly esteemed as one of the noblest employments of a free and intellectual people.

If the present Essay may in any degree tend to promote that auspicious result, the Author will derive a sincere gratification from the belief, that the time and attention devoted to its preparation have not been wholly misapplied.