BEAL ON TOPICS FOR A BOTANICAL CLUB. 95 



systematic botany than is generally expected in these times in the courses 

 of a university. 



Especially should the agricultural student from the start take much 

 pains to become a close and accurate observer of plants in the field, 

 orchard, and garden, in fact anywhere found. 



For such a course the electives need not be numerous. 



For many years past at the State Agricultural College there has been 

 a Natural History Society with meetings once a month at which the obser- 

 vations reported referred mainly to agriculture, horticulture, botany, 

 zoology, and entomology. 



A little over six years ago, a Botanical Club was established with meet- 

 ings in the botanical laboratory three or four times a month. The 

 attendance averages from ten to fifteen, with a membership of about 

 twenty-five. 



During these six years of its existence, there have been presented two 

 hundred and nineteen topics. Most of the members are mentally young. 

 I have here a list of seventy-five or more of these topics which seem to 

 be models of their kind for such members to consider. As one of the 

 objects of the State Academy of Science is to encourage young people — 

 or older ones either — to pursue some lines of investigation appropriate 

 to oar aims, I thoughl this list of topics would be interesting to such 

 young workers or members of a young Natural History Society. It may 

 be needless to say that in nearly every instance the paper or talk gave 

 the results of personal observation. 



A comparison of the fruits of our three elms. 



The Flora of Michigan, some notes on. 



Beech drops. 



The odor of plants. 



The box elder. 



Proper work of a botanical club. 



Thistles of the neighborhood. 



A study of the leaves of Arbor vitae. 



Comparison of the buds of several oaks. 



The fruit of the red mulberry. 



Comparison of the twigs of three pines. 



The roots of the red clover. 



Pop corn, before and after popped. 



The roots and leaves of a young wheat plant. 



The report of a field day. 



The flowers of Campanula. 



The flowers of the common sage. 



Petiolar glands. 



The life history of corn smut. 



Notes on how to observe. 



Notes on leaf galls. 



The attractions of the botanic garden. 



A talk on wheat. 



Remarks on native goldenrods and asters. 



A comparison of beech nuts from several trees. 



Large varieties of fruits of a hawthorn. 



Autumn leaves. 



