40 THE PLANT WORLD. 



SUGGESTIONS TO PLAXT COLLECTORS. 



These hints were written for collectors in Sonthern Arizona, 

 Imt have an application in some other quarters. 



1. Record the altitude — from a bench-mark if there is one 

 in the neighborhood, if not then bj other well-known means. 

 There is nothing more important to a student of distribution. 



2. State what the exposure is. Two quite different floras 

 are often growing within a few rods of each other on the opposite 

 sides of a caiion. 



3. ]S[ote character of soil and rock. If maps of the Bu- 

 reau of Soils are available for the area in hand, use their nomen- 

 clature. 



4. Indicate relative abundance. Enclose a few square 

 meters, or such standard area as you may adopt, where the spe- 

 cies is at its best, and count the individuals. This will take a 

 few minutes, but will give something definite. It is applicable 

 chiefly to perennials. 



5. Collect by habitats as far as possible and enumerate in 

 each at least a few characteristic associates. 



A number of other things might be added, but if these sug- 

 gestions, with such modifications as experience and varying con- 

 ditions call for, are actually followed for even a score of the most 

 characteristic plants of an area, accompanied by very brief simi- 

 lar notes for the rest, your collection will give an ecologist or a 

 student of distribution, what he specially wants to know, and 

 there will be less "hay" in the herbaria to which your plants 

 iire sent. V. M. Spalding. 



A SIMPLE PLAX FOR C^OLLECTORS OF ECOLOGICAL 



SETS OF PLANTS. 



In a collection of plants the value of the specimens depends 

 almost directly upon the fullness and accuracy with which data 

 are recorded. Especially is this true at present when growing 

 attention is paid to ecology. The ''Texas-04-John Doe" type of 

 L'lbel has outlived its usefulness. 



