OUTLINES OF BOTANY, LXXI 
sate — have been the subject of numerous observations or 
experiments of the most distinguished naturalists, and a Deets yet far fro 
being fully ‘investigate. ae ‘details, however, as far as known, outa 
be far too long for the presen 
222. The fruit ede es nn protects the seed until its beara and 
then often promotes its dispersion by a great variety of c ces or 
apparently collateral circumstances, e. g. by an elastic dchiscence which 
casts the cen off to a distance; by the development of a pappus, wings, 
hooked or other appendages, which allows them to bs carried off by 
winds, or re animals, etc., to which they may rb ere; by their small specific 
gravity, which enables them to float down stream s; by their attractions 
to birds, etc., who taking them for food drop them omar at great distances, 
ete. Appendages to the seeds themselves oF often promote dispersion. 
— Hairs have various functions. The rgerame ay aticare sprees of 
stems and leaves indeed seems - take little part in the economy of t 
plant; besides — aps some occasional protection against iniariack sitoe 
spheric influences, but the root- facies ae are active absorbents, the hairs 
on wr and ors parts of flowers appear often materially to assist the 
transmission of pollen, and the exudations eet ousted hairs — 2) are 
res too copious not . mea some influe n the ph of vege- 
tation. The whole que , however, of aie table exudations fea their in- 
fluence on the economy se agen life, is as yet but imperfectly understood. 
Cuap. IV. Coniection, PRESERVATION, AND DErTERMINATION 
or P 
ANTS 
. Plants oe pea ms most easily and satisfactorily seem 
iene phere gathered. will rarely admit of this being don 
and it is moreover aa er fe siecle them dia other plants previonsly 
ear rved or collected. Specimens must, therefore, be selected for leis 
sins at home, and preserved for future calerciina A peice: a 
eee mens constitutes a Herbarium 
ee: | rare 8 al Specimen, to be pe erfect, should have root, stem, leaves, 
flower (both open and in bud) and fruit (both young and mature). It is 
n wever, always possible to gather such complete specimens, but the 
era should aim at completeness. Fragments, such as leaves without 
flowers, or flowers without leaves, are of little or no - 
226. If the plant news mall (not exceeding 15 in.), or can be reduced to 
i art 
the whole, a good flow tha branch should “eh selected , with a falape 
as low down as can be ga athered en it; and one or aes of yh lower 
stem-leaves or radical leaves, if a othd b — as to preserve 
as much as possible of the pecu ating aspect 0 of t e plan 
227. ra chiar should be taken from fale “tninjured plants of 
medium siz i pecimen be gathered bec t looks a little 
tiferent ap thes the majority Pe those around it, aan wnsie belonging to 
the e species, a specime ie athe more prevalent form should be taken 
el 
228. For br salle the spec Pic ae a light portfolio of pasteboard, 
covered with calico or leather, furnished with straps and buckles for 
