PREFACE xi 



in Duggar's " Fungous Diseases of Plants " and Bergen and 

 Caldwell's " Practical Botany " have been secured through 

 the kindness of the authors of these books. Other drawings 

 in the book are the work of the author's pupils, and the data 

 for the tables of precipitation were supplied by Mr. F. M. 

 Muhlig, United States weather observer at Joliet. The author 

 is especially indebted to his friends, Mr. A. T. Weaver of the 

 American Steel and Wire Company and Mr. Mark Bennitt of 

 the H. L. Hollister Land Company, Chicago, for the use of 

 numerous excellent photographs, and to them, as well as to 

 the others mentioned, he extends his sincere thanks. 



For a careful reading of the entire proof and for many help- 

 ful suggestions in connection therewith, the author is under 

 deep obligations to his colleague, Professor E. F. Downey of 

 the Flower Technical High School, Chicago; to Professor Grant 

 Smith, Chicago Teachers' College ; and to Professor John 

 H. Schaffner, head of the department of botany, Ohio State 

 University. To his failure to adopt in some instances the sug- 

 gestions made, must be attributed such errors as may be de- 

 tected. By far the larger number of drawings in the book are 

 the work of the author's wife, Ida Martin Clute, and to her 

 he is further indebted for invaluable assistance in preparing 

 the text and in correcting the proofs. 



WILLARD N. CLUTE 

 JOLIET, ILLINOIS 



