21 



Our predicament is not improved when these names are loosely 

 bandied about and lightly given. The rule sometimes seems to be, if 

 a thing is found in a new place, give it a new name, especially if it is 

 a shade darker or a trifle larger. 



We have gone to great lengths in this manner in the case of 

 number of our common fungus genera. The sooner we devote some 

 of this linguistic and glory-hunting energy to the creation of a first- 

 class " rogue's gallery/' the better. 



Measure, observe the behaviour, photograph, and above all, draw. 

 I know some learned societies have tried to lay disabilities on drawings. 

 That, however, is only an admission that a great number of the 

 members cannot yet appreciate a drawing. In effect they say that the 

 one who makes a drawing cannot be relied on to know anything about 

 what he draws. My experience is quite the contrary. 



It must be admitted that a knowledge of the name of anything too 

 often passes for a knowledge of the thing itself. He who can promptly 

 give the common and scientific name of a plant, animal, or other 

 natural object, has a passport to the confidence of his fellows that 

 one cannot help wishing may always be justified by a fuller knowledge 

 to follow ; while it may be admitted that this wish is satisfied in the 

 majority of cases, there remains no small ground for thinking that 

 much of our current knowledge stops short at the point that enables 

 the possessor of it to " give it a name." 



This, of course, is only another way of saying that the object of too 

 much of our study is to the end of classifying, and to that end alone. 



Such study, however necessary, cannot escape the criticism of being 

 superficial. Moreover, it leads to an inordinate love of routine, and a 

 contentment with knowing a little about a large number of objects, 

 that prevents us, paradoxical as it may seem, from knowing much 

 about this same series of objects ; for in any series of related natural 

 objects one is in reality very much like another in all essential features, 

 and a knowledge of one member of the series is in many respects 

 equivalent to a knowledge of the others. But our method of skimming 

 over the surface, of giving superficial attention to so many objects, 

 prevents us from getting below the surface and reaching those general 

 phenomena which would furnish such data of a general nature as 

 would lead to nearly all the results we now achieve and very much 

 more beside. 



It would be a splendid resolution, if carried into effect, for each 

 of us who devotes attention to species-describing, to decide to 

 periodically give a deep look into one of the organisms he is in the 

 habit of studying, making it as exhaustive as his resources permit. 



Remedies for Ripe Rot. 



Care in Handling. The observations recorded in the foregoing 

 pages, and similar observations made elsewhere, teach no lesson more 

 forcibly than that concerning the care which should be exercised in 

 the handling of all fruit destined for lengthy storage. 



