44 THE TEACHING BOTANIST 



college. Its proper place is in the lower schools, where 

 children learn names easily and with pleasure. It is safe 

 to say that ninety-five hundredths of those who are later 

 taught to use a Manual and make a collection in school 

 or college never again look at either, and very soon for- 

 get how to use the one and where they have put the other. 

 Therefore, I do not think it is right to take time in which 

 all students may be taught illuminating and fundamental 

 facts and principles they will be slow to forget, and in 

 which they may be gaining a training which will be of 

 use to them in any occupation of life, for learning how 

 to look up the names of plants in a book; especially 

 as any person of fair intelligence who cares at all for 

 it can pick up the names of common plants in other 

 ways much more easily. Some knowledge of the main 

 divisions of the flowering plants, and of some of the 

 leading families, comes naturally in the study of Natural 

 History of the Group of Spermatophyr.es. Still, the 

 ability to use Manuals, and some knowledge of classifi- 

 cation of the higher plants, is invaluable to certain 

 students, especially to those who continue their studies, 

 and to many to whom it is an agreeable hobby. Oppor- 

 tunity for systematic study should therefore be given 

 to such students, but this can readily be done through 

 voluntary classes of those interested working at odd 

 times - - a system I have myself thoroughly tested, and 

 use to my entire satisfaction. 



Any course embodying the ideas here set forth must 



