100 MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



TArEK BEAD BEFORE THE JOI]ST SESSION OF THE ACADEMY 

 AND THE BIOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE SCHOOL- 

 MASTERS' CLUB. 



HOW SHALL A YOUNG PERSON STUDY BOTANY? 



(A sequel to the New Botany, printed in 1S79.) 

 BY W. J. BEAL, ni. D. 



Mr. President, Members of the Botanical Section of the Academy of 

 Science and the Biological Section of the Schoolmasters' Club: 

 While studying four years in the classical course at the University 

 of Michigan and coming- under the instruction of Alexander Winchell, 

 T was seized with a desire for more knowledge of natural history. It 

 was two years later, in April, 18G1, that I went to Harvard to study 

 under the guidance of Agassiz and Gray. In those times, the gross 

 anatomy, morphology and the classification of animals and plants were 

 about all that received much attention. 



Agassiz said he was glad to see me there and asked a few questions, 

 observing that, "You must make up your mind to be a poor man all 

 your life if you become a naturalist. With my mode of treatment stu- 

 dents are about sure to become discouraged at first. I shall try your 

 patience. You have read books, but have not studied the subjects them- 

 selves. If you study with me you must not look at a book for some 

 time, — for several months. You must learn to see, — to observe for your- 

 self. After students get started once in this way, the longer thej' study 

 here the better they like it, and the more reluctant they are to leave." 

 After some more questions, he handed me half a dozen dead sea- 

 urchins, and left me with the remark: "I want you to see what you can 

 make of them, and in a day or two I will see how you get along." 



He assigned me a table in the laboratory, where ten or a dozen other 

 special students were at work, the floor being largely covered with cords of 

 shallow wooden boxes sitting tightly over each other containing various 

 kinds of specimens. This was a queer way to study, six dry specimens 

 about as large as so many Baldwin apples and no books! I looked them 

 over and over, part of the time using a small hand lens. I was glad 

 when night came, for it seemed as though I had learned all there was 

 to be learned of sea urchins. I broke them to pieces and made some 

 drawings. The next day the professor called with a smile, saying: 

 *'Well, Mr. Beal, what have you seen?" He glanced at the drawings 

 and I told him what I had done. He gave me a very few general hints 

 of what to look for, and a few names of the parts, noticing some mis- 

 takes, but made no corrections. 



