CONE SCALES, SEEDS, ETC. 7 



the expectation of it formed from American descrip- 

 tions and experiences of specimens brought from 

 their endemic home m California. With all these, and 

 perhaps with others, the early-bird habit stands in 

 good stead to the collector. 



When the collector has satiated his curiosity upon 

 the outward and visible signs, if he is possessed of 

 the true spirit, and vital spark of the inquiring mind, 

 he will not rest content until he has pulled his 

 specimen to pieces, looked at it by bits, and examined 

 every detail of its external and internal economy. 

 He can then make minute observations and mental 

 notes — if his enthusiasm still carries him onward — 

 of the shape and size of each scale, the situation and 

 number of seeds and wings, the length of stalk, of 

 cone ; the configuration of the margin of these scales^ 

 whether they have entire, unbroken margins, or 

 whether these same margins have a frayed, jagged 

 or erose appearance — all three meaning much the 

 same thing; or again, whether the scales are pointed,, 

 double pointed, or rounded. In the case of the 

 Common Spruce, all three variations are said to 

 occur. 



A knowledge of the shape of these scales adds 

 cubits to the intellectual stature of the student of 

 these subjects, and moreover without calling upon 

 any profound botanical knowledge. This solid fact 

 remains, not perhaps a very worthy one, and onl>^ 

 adduced as a labour-saving apparatus, that the sight 

 of a familiar cone at foot has saved many a question- 

 ing glance upward, and brought forth a ready answer 

 to the less-equipped inquirer. 



