Botany
By Pr. Bentley

CONTENTS
I-Introductory
II-General Characters of Flowering Plants
III-The Tissues of Plants
IV-The Growth of Cell-Tissue, and Nature of the Cell
V-The Food of Plants
VI-The Growing Seed
VII-The Root
VIII-The Stem
IX-The Buds and Branches
X-The Leaves
XI-The Inflorescence
XII-The Flower
XIII-The Calyx
XIV-The Corolla
XV-The Disk
XVI -Estivation
XVII-The Stamen
XVIII-The Pistil
XIX-The Ovule
XX-Fertilization
XXI-The Fruit
XXII-The Seed
XXIII-Surface Coverings and Appendages
XXIV-Gymnospermous Plants
XXV-Classification
XXVI-Physiological Experiments
XXVII-A School-Garden of Flowering Plants
XXVIII-Schedules for Exercises on Leaves AND Flowers

PREFACE

The object of this Primer is to supply an elementary knowledge of the principal facts of plant-life, together with the means of training beginners in the way to observe plants methodically and accurately; and in the way to apply the knowledge thus obtained to the methodical study of Botany.

It is hoped that by its means the teacher may convey a sound elementary knowledge of the number, nature, relative positions and uses of the principal organs of plants, of the order and way in which they grow, and in which plants multiply, and of those resemblances which exist amongst them, by a comparison of which their true relationships are known and themselves classified.

In using this Primer the plants indicated are, whenever possible, to be put into each pupil's hand. Hence, to facilitate its use, I have placed at the end an Index of the plants referred to in it. These may be procured in the country, or from any intelligent nurseryman. Many of them should be grown in every school-garden, and arranged in it systematically, so that the teacher may have the same means of displaying to his pupils the principles of classification at the great founder of the natural classification of plants, Bernard de Jussieu, had after arranged the Garden of the Palace of Trianon after its establishment by Louis XV.

The teacher should further have a copious supply of dried flowers, and other parts of these plants so preserved as that the pupil can, after moistening them in warm water, separate their organs. Much may thus be learnt when fresh plants cannot be obtained, and a rehearsal of the summer's lessons upon such dried specimens is a most improving exercise. He should also have a supply of preserved fruits, seeds, sections of stems, and of mounted preparations of the tissues and minute parts of plants adapted for exhibition under the microscope.

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