such a manual may be given in the early part of the course, 

 thus preparing the student to name the flowers as fast as they 

 appear. 



It is not easy to overestimate the value of all sorts of col- 

 lections for use in connection with agronomy. The accumula- 

 tion of striking objects with which to illustrate the course is, 

 however, not a matter of a single year, for the specimens must 

 be secured a few at a time as they are found. Soil maps, typ- 

 ical fungi, seed collections, samples of soils and fertilizers, 

 mineral specimens and pictures of unusual crops, specimen 

 plants, and unfamiliar farming operations all add to the attrac- 

 tiveness and interest of the course. If the school does not 

 possess a museum in which these may be kept, they should be 

 carefully preserved in the laboratory or classroom. 



In most cases specific directions for performing an experi- 

 ment or for carrying on the other work of the course have 

 been omitted from this book, since the conditions in different 

 schools are likely to vary, and the teacher will naturally prefer 

 to work these out to fit his own local conditions. Indeed, in 

 many instances, the planning of the work may be left to the 

 student. No doubt mistakes will be made, but one may learn 

 much from his mistakes. If the pupils have not had an earlier 

 course in botany, or if it is desired to go deeper into the sub- 

 ject of the organization of the plant than is here presented, 

 the author's " Laboratory Botany for the High School " may 

 be found useful. 



The sources of the illustrations in this volume are for the 

 most part indicated in connection with the illustrations them- 

 selves, but the author takes this opportunity to acknowledge 

 his indebtedness to the Bateman Manufacturing Company, 

 Greenloch, New Jersey ; Wagner's Park Conservatories, Sid- 

 ney, Ohio ; The Lord and Burnham Company, New York ; and 

 S. L. Allen, Philadelphia, for the loan of photographs and 

 other material. Several illustrations that originally appeared 



