PREFACE.

...having turned these matters over in his mind, he was most thoroughly convinced that both the mode of growth and the habit the general appearance or architecture of a plant of the whole plant, and the remaining arrangement of its accidental features, must necessarily be summoned not only to establish subordinate species, but even to define genera the plural of genus; a rank in biological classification. This is our own opinion, as delivered in the Dissertation on Methods and elsewhere.

It remains, in the last place, for me to explain why I have undertaken this new edition of the Method Referring to Ray's Methodus Plantarum Emendata. Let the Benevolent Reader know, therefore, that I was moved by two primary reasons to do so.

First, that I myself noticed, and was also advised by others, that the Method which I used in the History of Plants original: Historia Plantarum for the arrangement of plants original: stirpibus suffered from its own defects and faults. It does not become an honorable man and a lover of truth original: φιλαλήθη (philalēthē) to hide or disguise an error once it has been recognized; rather, so that he may devote himself to the truth, he ought to disclose and correct it, even to the detriment of his own reputation. This I have done in this little work, so that I might adapt the Method—of which I am not yet ashamed—to be as accurate and purged of errors as possible for the use of students.

Second, because I have found that some who drew the Characteristic Marks of the Genera original: Notas Generum Characterišticas from our Method and History very often erred in describing them, and omitted certain of the principal Marks; namely, because they were not sufficiently attentive and diligent in following the guidance and divisions of the Tables taxonomic charts used to identify plants by their features.