HOW TO KNOW THE GRASSES 



A Tin Paste are satisfactory for this purpose. 



PU.Tj tf low*. 



/4m< t 

 p.w.P.fcl J»».V>,I1'*1 



Figure 10 



which are glued to the sheet. 



Each specimen, after 

 gluing, is then dropped 

 onto a sheet of paper. 

 Since grasses are often 

 quite waxy, they do not 

 always stick well and 

 should also be sewed 

 to the sheet with string 

 or fastened down with 

 narrow strips of gum- 

 med cloth tape (see 

 Fig. 10). Do not use 

 "Scotch" tape, since it 

 becomes sticky and 

 brittle with age or pulls 

 loose. A label, bear- 

 ing the name of the 

 plant, the place and 

 date of collection, and 

 any other pertinent in- 

 formation, should be 

 glued in the lower 

 right corner of the 

 sheet. Loose spikelets 

 or other small parts 

 may be placed in 

 small coin envelopes 



When considerable numbers of specimens are needed, for use in 

 classes or for display, they may be preserved by tying them in 

 sheaves and allowing them to hang head down until dry. 



The equipment which one needs for studying grasses is simple 

 and inexpensive. A good hand lens, of ten to fifteen power is essen- 

 tial, and should always be carried when collecting. A pair of dis- 

 secting needles, well sharpened, are needed. A small scalpel, made 

 by heating and pounding out the tip of a large needle, then retemper- 

 ing and sharpening the edge, is a great help. These can sometimes 

 be purchased through biological supply houses. A pair of good 

 tweezers, preferably with curved tips, a razor blade, and a millimeter 

 scale complete the equipment. When available, a low power binocular 

 microscope will speed and simpHfy the job of seeing. If such a micro- 

 scope is not obtainable, one might mount a hand lens on an impro- 

 vised stand, so as to leave both hands free for dissecting the speci- 

 mens. To soften dried grass spikelets so that they may be dissected 

 more readily, one may apply a few drops of a strong solution of 

 Dreft or Vel in water. 



