A practical course in botany : with especial reference to its bearings on agriculture, economics, and sanitation

This textbook offers a hands‑on introduction to botany that satisfies college‑entry standards while keeping the material firmly rooted in everyday concerns. By linking plant biology to agriculture, economics, and public health, it shows how the science of plants touches the food we eat, the markets that move it, and the cleanliness of our environments. The author carefully avoids unnecessary technical jargon, encouraging students to learn the essential terminology rather than shy away from it.

The book is built around inexpensive, easily‑obtained experiments, often using common garden or cultivated flowers that students can find in schoolyards or local markets. These activities demonstrate plant structure, growth cycles, and their role in sanitation, while also instilling a respect for native wild species threatened by over‑collection. Designed for the average student rather than a specialist, the lessons require only modest ingenuity and simple tools, making botany accessible in any classroom.