THE PLANT WOELD 5 



ter and the most spongy and light." Then follows an enumeration of 

 its virtues, the powder being "one of the greatest medicines there is," 

 and to the conclusion we should like to call the attention of homeo- 

 pathists : " This may be given as a general rule for the application of 

 all remedies, ' in sicknesses and indispositions of a hot nature, things 

 naturally cold should be used ; and in cold, things hot ; because every 

 infirmity is cured by its contrary.' " 



HINTS FOR BEGINNERS IN THE DETERr/llNATION 



OF GRASSES. 

 By. C. F. Saunders. 



THE average botanical amateur is apt to fight shy of the grasses, as 

 a family either too poor in interest or too full of technical difficul- 

 ties to warrant his spending time upon them. Nevertheless, 

 grasses are well worth the student's attention, if for no other reasons 

 than the immense value they are to mankind, and their wide distribu- 

 tion in the earth ; and when once he comes under the spell of their 

 fascination, he will find in their study a variet}^ of stimcture and a 

 beauty of form and texture that will be as a new world to him. 



The technical difficulties, so far as the thousand species of United 

 States grasses are concerned, are far less than most beginners suppose, 

 and if one have good eyesight, he need experience no serious trouble 

 in the determination of his collections, except in the case of a very few 

 genera, like Fanicum, for instance, about which even experts find cause 

 for disagreements. It is true, the smallness of the flower-parts in 

 many species makes discrimination and care particvilarly needful, but 

 this very fact increases the disciplinary value of their study, and adds 

 zest to the hunt. 



The following suggestions to beginners in the determination of 

 gi'asses are offered by the writer Avith a lively recollection of his own 

 first futile attempts, which were finally directed into easier channels by 

 a kind friend whose method was about as follows : 



Buy for about fifty cents at any store where botanical supplies are 

 kept, a small double lens of 8 or 10 diameter power, with adjustable 

 focus, set upon a tripod. At the same place get two dissecting needles 

 Avith long handles ; or, instead of these latter, you can, by sinking an 

 ordinary' needle in the end of a wooden penholder, provide yourself 

 ^ith a good enough substitute. One needle should be sharp and the 

 other blunt for holding the object in place. Then, with a child's com- 

 mon slate (which, being black, is restful to the eye, besides throwing 



