468 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



were made, or if so not until the return home, and thus of 

 less permanent value, than those made on the spot. 



1. As far as possible an approximate percentage should 

 be given where a piece of ground is examined in detail. 

 The terms : r. = rare, v. r. = very rare, r. r. = rather rare, 

 f. c. = fairly common, c. = common, and v. c. = very com- 

 mon, may be put in after the excursion has been concluded, 

 or if need be on the spot, or a. = abundant, 1. a. = locally 

 abundant, v. a. = very abundant, d. = dominant, 1. sd. = 

 locally subdominant, f. = frequent, o. = occasional, r = 

 rare, s. = sporadic. 



2. A note should be given after a plant where the habitat 

 is peculiar, whether in flower or on any other points of interest. 



3. Where a road is chosen, mark the lists with a division 

 for every point such as a village, cross-road, so that if neces- 

 sary to survey the road to ascertain the exact rock-soil of 

 the species, this can be ascertained within a short distance. 

 This could be done most easily by stating the hedge- 

 boundaries, if the route taken is not a long one. Give 

 abbreviations (as in meadow) for hedge, ditch, roadside, 

 wall, etc. 



4. Rivers should be zoned, that is to say, apart from the 

 itinerary list of plants made a section across the river 

 should be taken at different points and the bands of vegeta- 

 tion, such as Carex or Sweet Flag along the margin. Pond- 

 weeds in the middle, Chara between (on the bottom) 

 should be given, zoning the plants according as they are 

 terrestrial, semi-aquatic, half-submerged, submerged, with 

 floating leaves, etc. 



5. In examining a wood note three things : 



(i) The Trees. — Pick out the dominant one, e.g. Oak or 

 Ash, or the two or three principal kinds, noting all others 

 afterwards. 



