XXXli OUTLINES OF 



veyed to the stigma, whether by elastic action of the organs themselves, or with the 

 assistance of wind, of insects, or other extraneous agents, have been the subject of 

 numerous observations and experiments of the most distinguished naturalists, and are 

 yet far from being fully investigated. Their details, however, as far as known, would 

 be far too long for the present outline. 



222. The fruit nourishes and protects the seed until its maturity, and then often 

 promotes its dispersion by a great variety of contrivances or apparently collateral cir- 

 cumstances, e. g. by an elastic dehiscence which casts the seed off to a distance ; by 

 the development of a pappus, wings, hooked or other appendages, which allows them 

 to be carried off by winds, or by animals, etc., to which they may adhere ; by their 

 small specific gravity, which enables them to float down streams ; by their attractions 

 to birds, etc., who taking them for food drop them often at great distances, etc. Ap- 

 pendages to the seeds themselves also often promote dispersion. 



223. Hairs have various functions. The ordinary indumentum (171) of stems and 

 leaves indeed seems to take little part in the economy of the plant besides perhaps 

 some occasional protection against injurious atmospheric influences, but the root-hairs 

 (216) are active absorbents, the hairs on styles and other parts of flowers appear often 

 materially to assist the transmission of pollen, and the exudations of glandular hairs 

 (175, 2) are often too copious not to exercise some influence on the phenomena of 

 vegetation. The whole question, however, of vegetable exudations and their influence 

 on the economy of vegetable life, is as yet but imperfectly understood. 



Cuap. IV. Collection, Pbesebvation, and Determination of Plants. 



224. Plants can undoubtedly be most easily and satisfactorily examined when 

 freshly gathered. But time will rarely admit of this being done, and it is moreover 

 desirable to compare them with other plants previously observed or collected. Speci- 

 mens must, therefore, be selected for leisurely observation at home, and preserved for 

 future reference. A collection of such specimens constitutes a Herbarium. 



225. A botanical Specimen, to be perfect, should have root, stem, leaves, flowers 

 (both open and in bud) and fruit (both young and mature). It is not, however, 

 always possible to gather such complete specimens, but the collector should aim at 

 completeness. Fragments, such as leaves without flowers, or flowers without leaves, 

 are of little or no use. 



226. If the plant is small (not exceeding 15 in.) or can be reduced to that length 

 by folding, the specimen should consist of the whole plant, including the principal 

 part of the root. If it be too large to preserve the whole, a good flowering branch 

 should be selected, with the foliage as low down as can be gathered with it ; and one 

 or two of the lower stem- leaves or radical leaves, if any, should be added, so as to 

 preserve as much as possible of the peculiar aspect of the plant. 



227. The specimens should be taken from healthy uninjured plants of a medium 

 size. Or if a specimen be gathered because it looks a little different from the majority 

 of those around it, apparently belonging to the same species, a specimen of the more 

 prevalent form should be taken from the same locality for comparison. 



228. For bringing the specimens home, a light portfolio of pasteboard, covered with 

 calico or leather, furnished with straps and buckles for closing, and another for sling- 

 ing on the shoulder, and containing a few sheets of stout coarse paper, is better than 

 the old-fashioned tin box (except, perhaps, for stiff prickly plants and a few others). 

 The specimens as gathered are placed between the leaves of paper, and may be crowded 

 together if not left long without sorting. 



229. If the specimen brought home be not immediately determined when fresh, 

 but dried for future examination, a note should be taken of the time, place, and 

 situation in which it was gathered ; of the stature, habit, and other particulars rela- 



