70 COLLECTING GRASSES. 



is called "White-wood," in others, "Tulip-tree," iu others, 

 "White Poplar," in others, " Yellow Poplar. " Acer rubrum is 

 known by several names in various States, as "Bed Maple,'* 

 "Soft Maple," and " Swamp Maple. " Poa pratensis goes by 

 the name of "Blue grass" in Kentucky; in other places it is 

 called "Kentucky blue grass," " green grass, " "green meadow 

 grass," "June grass," "spear grass," and very likely several 

 other names. One species is known as "Timothy," "Herd's 

 grass," "Cat's tail;" another is known in different places as< 

 "red-top/' "herd's-grass," "Burden's grass," "red bent," 

 " summer dew grass," " small red-top, " " fine red-top," "fowl- 

 meadow grass." Other illustrations appear in connection with 

 the consideration of the species most cultivated. It is quite 

 necessary, for accuracy, that only one name be used for each kind 

 of plant. 



Collecting and Preserving Grasses. No person can make 

 satisfactory progress in this study without frequent reference to 

 species with which he has formerly met. For this purpose speci- 

 mens can easily be pressed, poisoned, dried, labelled, classified, 

 and arranged in order, convenient for future reference. A very 

 simple, and in some respects quite desirable method, is to pre- 

 serve the grasses in the form of dried bunches. In this way they 

 become brittle, and cannot well be handled without damage, but 

 they preserve their appearance, better than those which are sub- 

 mitted to pressure between folds of paper. Even though these 

 dried bunches may not be kept very long, their use is to be 

 recommended. , 



If it is within the means of the student, he will find it of 

 great advantage to transplant bunches or grow seed in his garden. 

 In this way he can often see the several kinds and study their 

 peculiarities at every stage of growth. 



On account of scattering seeds which produce young plants 

 that cannot be identified till they have become well established, 



