6 THE NATURE-STUDY OF PLANTS 
about the life of a plant, but before I do so I must 
draw his attention to three more golden rules which 
must be observed ceaselessly alike in Nature-study 
and in all other scientific research work. 
The first is always to see and do things for himself 
whenever it is by any means possible. It is not always 
easy, although, in the long run, it is seldom impossible, 
to keep this rule. If he is really interested in the 
subject he will not mind awaiting the opportunity, 
it may be until next year, or the year after, or even 
Jonger, and he will find that being on the alert is the 
very surest way of seeing a chance and the most 
powerful incentive to take it; Keenness is the joyful 
and prolific mother of splendid children. 
The second, equally invaluable, is to stick to one 
thing at a time and resolutely to leave the side 
issues, however attractive they may be, until that . 
one thing is done. Never neglect what has been 
taken in hand for the sake of something else. 
The third rule, quite as important as the other 
two, and certainly not the easiest to keep whole and 
undefiled, is never to undertake more than one can 
reasonably hope to do thoroughly, or, in other words, 
not to have too many irons in the fire. It is far 
better to do one thing well than two or three in- 
differently, and of much greater value to Science and 
its devotees. 
These few rules cannot be emphasized too strongly 
or respected too scrupulously. I shall, however, have 
to refer again to the first of them in the last chapter. 
In what follows I wish it to be understood that I 
claim no special merit and no superiority for my 
own methods, but I may perhaps say that I at any rate 
have found them serviceable; nor have I any doubt 
