HOW TO USE THE BOOK 



ical key. Many of the measurements and technical descriptions 

 have been based upon Gray's ** Manual." It has been thought 

 best to omit any mention of species and varieties not included 

 in the latest edition of that work. 



An ordinary magnifying-glass (such as can be bought for 

 seventy-five cents), a sharp penknife, and one or two dissecting- 

 needles will be found useful in the examination of the smaller 

 flowers. The use of a note-book, with jottings as to the date, 

 color, surroundings, etc., of any newly identified flower, is rec- 

 ommended. This habit impresses on the memory easily forgotten 

 but important details. Such a book is also valuable for further 

 reference, both for our own satisfaction when some point which 

 our experience had already determined has been forgotten, and 

 for the settlement of the many questions which are sure to arise 

 among flower-lovers as to the localities in which certain flowers 

 are found, the dates at which they may be expected to appear 

 and disappear, and various other points which even the scientific 

 books sometimes fail to decide. 



Some of the flowers described are found along every country 

 highway, and it is interesting to note that these wayside plants 

 may usually be classed among the foreign population. They 

 have been brought to us from Europe in ballast and in loads of 

 grain, and invariably follow in the wake of civilization. Many 

 of our most beautiful native flowers have been crowded out of 

 the hospitable roadside by these aggressive, irresistible, and mis- 

 chievous invaders ; for Mr. Burroughs points out that nearly 

 all of our troublesome weeds are emigrants from Europe. We 

 must go to the more remote woods and fields if we wish really 

 to know our native plants. Swamps especially offer an eagerly 

 sought asylum to our shy and lovely wild flowers. 



XIV 



