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PLANT PHOTOGRAPHY. 



BY CARL KREBS, CLEVELAND, OHIO. 



Since the improved and simplified methods of 

 photography have facilitated its use, it has become a 

 valuable adjunct to scientific research. 



In botany, this art has not been applied very ex- 

 tensively as yet. The reason for this may be, perhaps 

 because few botanists are enough versed in operating 

 a camera to overcome the difficulties, which plant- 

 photography presents, whereas ; artists do not seem 

 to possess the appreciation and knowledge necessary 

 to produce pictures of botanical subjects. 



Occasionalh' we meet with plant illustrations 

 obtained from photographs in writings of travel and 

 exploration, but they are usually small and crude, and 

 consequently of no scientific value. 



A most beautiful collection of plant photographs 

 is in possession of the museum of Kew in England, 

 among which might be mentioned a group composed 

 of Venus fly-trap, pitcher plant and sun dew : another 

 one of different lichens on a piece of rock : one showing 

 methods of seed dissemination ; and still another one, 

 aRafflesia taken with the wild surroundings of its 

 tropical home. 



From experiences gained in obtaining my own 

 collection of plant photos, I will quote the following 

 fundamental points to be observed. 



