INTRODUCTION 



If in country drive or ramble we happen upon 

 an unknown flower, it is a comparatively easy 

 matter, by means of the illustrations and the 

 color guides of the modern field books of wild 

 flowers, to identify it. The lack of similar 

 reference books for identifying a plant by its 

 fruit was forcibly brought to my notice during 

 a drive in early autumn. Our journeyings led 

 us along a wooded roadway where it was no 

 longer the brilliance of the flowers which de- 

 manded our attention, but rather the attractive 

 masses of fruits. There was one shrub bearing 

 fruits of varying colors in different stages of 

 development which was very attractive and 

 which I did not know. I naturally wished to 

 make its acquaintance. 



Here the aforesaid field books failed to give 

 their ready aid. Any system of analysis was 

 of no avail, as the flower which preceded this 

 special fruit was unobtainable. I was surprised 

 at the meagerness of the descriptions of the 

 fruits which I read, hoping to find my specimen 



