PREFACE. THIS little book was suggested to me by the many pleasant rambles I have had with little folks of all ages in country lanes and fields, and the desire I have noticed even in the youngest mind to know something more about the pretty flowers which they loved to gather than the bare names by which they are called. I cannot think, as some say they do, that a further acquaintance with the structure and habits of a plant destroys its poetical associations or detracts from the love of its beauty. Each part of a flower is in itself beautiful and curious; and those who know how skilfully and wonderfully these parts are adapted to the purposes for which they are made, surely add to the sense of beauty, to which every child with a healthy mind is alive, an intelligent understanding of the reasons for this perfect adaptation and beauty, which rather increases than diminishes. the pleasure with which every flower is regarded and cherished by the lover of nature. I do not desire or pretend to teach botany in these pages; but I wish to excite so much interest in what is to be learnt about plants in the minds of my little I readers, that they may, as they grow older, study botany for themselves, with the aid of any one of the many good elementary guides that now exist. I have, however, endeavoured to avoid stating anything as to botanical facts which is incorrect, or would have to be unlearned as the inquiry and study which I hope to excite progresses. I have only ventured to suggest much that is very interesting in the study of plants, leaving the details to future time and better guidance than mine. am greatly indebted to my friend, Professor Lawson, of the University of Oxford, for many kindly hints during the preparation of these pages. I may congratulate myself and my little friends on the assistance of one so well able to maintain a high place for our favourite pursuit in the studies of advanced students, who were once little boys themselves, perhaps asking simple questions and wanting familiar and easy answers such as I have tried to give to my little friends Henry and Alice, both of whom live in country homes, where the flowers grow, the birds sing, and where they will find it pleasant and good to try and learn all they can about the beautiful things which are around them, be they flowers, trees, insects, or birds. 68 BELSIZE PARK, LONDON, N.W., September 1878. PHEBE LANKESTER. |