V. ON LABORATORIES AND THEIR 



EQUIPMENT 



BOTANICAL laboratories are of many sorts, from those 

 built especially for the purpose by some of the greater 

 universities down to unaltered schoolrooms ; but all have 

 this in common, that the room and its furniture are 

 of far less account than the person who directs them. 

 In other words, it is more profitable to give a good 

 teacher to a poor laboratory than a good laboratory to 

 a poor teacher. Laboratories, like methods, are fine 

 tools for skilled workmen, and they give but indifferent 

 results in the hands of those untrained in their use. 

 Proper laboratories every teacher should strive for; but 

 he is not to suppose that good work must be put off 

 until he achieves them. 



Many universities, some colleges, and a few high 

 schools now possess good botanical laboratories, and if a 

 teacher has the opportunity to direct the building of a new 

 one, he should visit some of these and ask advice of their 

 directors. He may obtain their addresses by writing to 

 the Professor of Botany in the principal university of his 

 State. But the following points will also be of use : - 



First, of course, is the room, in which a prime requi- 

 site is abundant light. This implies many and very tall 



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