APPENDIX II 463 



go out with a definite purpose in view. It is possible to 

 study all the members of one or more natural orders whose 

 characters it is desired to learn — e.g. Ranunculacese or 

 Cruciferae — and to collect all the species of these orders, to 

 refer each to its genus, and finally to identify each species. 

 Or it may be desired to study all the wild flowers of a 

 particular district, or those of a particular habitat. 



A very necessary desideratum is a good lens and a note- 

 book, pencil, possibly, further, a sketchmg-block. To collect 

 the plants in good condition to take home, a vasculum is 

 needed. Collect only good and typical specimens. Some 

 may wish to study plants only in the field. If so, simple 

 dissecting tools should be carried with one — e. g. a scalpel, 

 fine-pointed scissors or knife, a needle or teaser, and a piece 

 of strawboard and small pins to set out the parts. Much 

 depends on whether a knowledge of species or of the floral 

 structure is required. If the beginner wishes merely to 

 identify his or her specimens to begin with, a pocket flora 

 should be carried (see note in Appendix I and Bibliography, 

 Introductory Vol.), and the plant should be examined and 

 run down by aid of the dichotomous keys. Most beginners 

 will, however, wish to carry their specimens home and to 

 study them at leisure, perhaps making their dissections 

 permanent by gumming the parts down upon a paper or 

 cardboard mount (Bristol board), adding water-colour or 

 pencil sketches, with notes thereon, as elaborate as the 

 material allows. 



In the field the powers of observation again should be 

 extended, not merely to the study of the bare characters 

 of the plant itself, but to the relation of the plant to the 

 soil, etc., the different stages of the plant from seedling to 

 flowering or fruiting stage, the adaptation to pollination, 

 including notes upon insect visitors, means of dispersal of 

 fruits or seeds, the relation to injurious plants and insects. 



