In the preparation of a series of books of this character, the important problem presented to the writer is how to present the most law and the most important law in the space which can be given to each subject. A great aid towards the accomplishment of this object can be found in the avoiding of repetition. The student who secures a set of separate text books on the different branches of the law, will soon notice how much the different subjects overlap each other, and how much material found in one book is merely a repetition of what has already been read in another. This repetition has been avoided in the present set, so far as possible, by a system of cross references. Whenever any legal question would naturally be discussed in the study of two different branches, a treatment of the question will be given under one of these headings, while under the other only a reference will be made to the place where the treatment may be found.

The ultimate source of the greater part of the law which a student must study is to be found in the decisions of reported cases. References are not only made throughout these books to these cases, but also in a number of cases the law has been given in the exact words of the court.

Great care has been taken that the cases cited and quoted from should be taken as far as possible from two classes of cases. First, those great landmark cases, a few of which are found in every branch of the law and which serve to a great extent as the foundation upon which the later development of the law has been built and, second, the latest reported case on the particular point.