THE fl,1^ERlDp BDTPIST. 



Vol. V. BINGHAMTON, N. Y., OCTOBER. 1903. , jj'jgo.4 



RV 



NEW YORK 



MORE ABOUT SEEDS. Botanical 



BV DR. WILLIAM WHITAIAN BAILEY. QAI^OCN 



I WAS very much interested in the suggestive article by 

 Mrs. Bradshaw in the September number of the Bot- 

 anist. The writer is correct in saying that seeds are not 

 onlv fasciriating to collect, but are most instructive to 

 study. Amassed perhaps in the first place simply in re- 

 sponse to the individual's desire to collect — a tendency ap- 

 parently inherent in the race — closer inspection endows 

 them 'w.^ith varied attributes of interest. 



At Brown University we have quite a large collection 

 of seeds gathered either personally or by exchange, by a 

 former curator Mr. J. L. Bennett. They illustrate a wide 

 range of families, genera and species. Thej^ are preserved 

 in bottles with a loose label, easily read in any position 

 the bottle may assume and containing full data. The pre- 

 paration of the seeds often entailed much labor, as in sep- 

 arating the seed from surrounding parts. Indeed, in case 

 of achenes, or v^here the calyx permanently persists, or 

 when the ovary wall adheres to the seed, this was not 

 done. It would be next to impossible and not specially 

 desirable. 



The bottles, arranged in drawers, are kejDt in a con- 

 venient cabinet. This allows the arrangement by families. 

 In the case of very large seeds, special draw^ers must of 

 course be provided, nor would these be bottled. 



In such a collection color is perhaps the first thing that 

 attracts attention. Nearly every hue is seen here, pure 

 w^hite, jet black, azure blue, yellow, orange and intense 

 scarlet or vermilion. Some beans and peas, as ever\^ one 

 knows, are a brilliant red with a black eye and are strung 



