INTRODUCTION*. 15 



51. NOTWITHSTANDING the extreme brevity of this work, the author believes 

 that no principle of the science essential to a liberal course in Botany is omitted. 

 The brevity is attained by a studied conciseness of expression, and by the omission 

 of all needless illustrations, theoretical views and wordy discussions. In the flora 

 those multitudinous repetitions which are liable to encumber the descriptions of 

 allied groups are avoided, without the sacrifice of minuteness by means of copious 

 tables of analysis. 



CHAPTER III. 



APPARATU S M ETHODS OF STUDY. 



52. THE PROPER SEASON FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OP THE STUDY of Botany in 

 schools is in late winter, at the opening of the first session or term after New-Years. 

 The class will thus be prepared before hand by a degree of acquaintance with first 

 principles, for the analysis of the earliest spring flowers the sweet Epigsea, Anemone. 

 Erigenia or spring beauty, of the North, the yellow jessamine, Chaptalia, or Cryso- 

 gonum of the South, the blood-root and violet every where. 



53. SPECIMENS of leaves, stems, roots, fruit, flowers, &c., in unlimited supply are re- 

 quisite during the whole course. In the absence of the living, let the dried specimens 

 of the herbarium be consulted. Crayon sketches upon the black-board, if truthful, 

 are always good for displaying minute or obscure forms. In the city, classes in 

 Botany may employ, at small expense, a collector to supply them daily with fresh 

 specimens from the country. Moreover, the gardens and conservatories will furnish 

 to such an abundant supply of cultivated species for study and analysis, with almost 

 equal advantage ; since the present work embraces, together with the native flora, 

 all exotics which are in any degree common in cultivation. 



54. AN HERBARIUM (h. s., hortus siccus, dry garden), is a collection of botanic 

 specimens, artificially dried, protected in papers and systematically arranged. Her- 

 baria are useful in many ways ; (a.) for preserving the knowledge of rare, or inacces- 

 sible, or lost species ; (6.) for exchanges, enabling one to possess the flora of other 

 countries : (c.) for refreshing one's memory of early scenes and studies ; (d.) for aid- 

 ing in more exact researches at leisure ; (e.) for the comparison of species with 

 species, genus with genus, &c. 



55. FOR COLLECTING BOTANIC SPECIMENS, a strong knife for digging and cutting is 

 needed, and a close tin box eighteen inches in length, of a portable form. Enclosed 

 in such a box, with a little moisture, specimens will remain fresh for a week. 



56. SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBARIUM should represent the leaves, flowers and 

 fruit, and, if herbaceous, the root also. Much care is requisite in so drying them as 

 to preserve the natural appearance, form and color. The true secret of this art con- 

 sists in extracting the moisture from them by pressure in an abundance of dry. 

 bibulous paper, before decomposition can take place. 



57. THE DRYING PRESS, to be most efficient and convenient, should consist of a 

 dozen quires of ordinary blotting paper, at least 11 x 14 inches, two sheets of wire 

 gauze, (same size) as covers, stiffened by folded edges, and three or four leather 

 straps a yard in length, with buckles. "When in use suspend it in the wind and sun- 

 shine. In such a press, the specimens dry well in fair weather without once 

 changing. If boards be used for covers instead of wire-gauze, the papers must be 

 changed and dried daily. 



