The field of applied science, dealing with the practical or economic aspects of a subject, lends itself much better to such treatment than does the field of pure science. This is particularly true of botany. From earliest time plants have been intimately bound up with human existence. Not only have they played an important part in the everyday life of mankind, but they have had a profound influence on the course of history and civilization. Knowledge of the industrial, medicinal, and edible plants cannot fail to broaden one’s outlook. Even though the value of including a considerable amount of economic material in a beginning course in botany may be recognized, the limitations of time or various curriculum requirements usually render such a procedure impracticable. It should be possible, however, to offer at least a half-year course devoted to economic plants as a supplement to the usual first year’s work. Such a course would appeal to students in chemistry, economics and other fields, as well as to those interested particularly in plant science. The present book is the outgrowth of several years’ experience in presenting a one-semester course dealing with economic plants. The material utilized is of necessity limited, for the whole field of economic botany is too vast a subject, and only the surface can be scratched. Although intended primarily as a textbook, this work should have an appeal to the ordinary reader, since material of too technical a nature has been avoided as far as possible.
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