LABORATORY METHODS 7 



of working with material that is thoroughly familiar. There is 

 danger in depending too much on slides, and they should not be 

 used where the student may readily make temporary prepara- 

 tions, for much of the value of laboratory work lies in the devel- 

 opment in the student of a certain manual skill. It is, however, 

 still more important that he become acquainted with and study 

 material first-hand. Botany made too easy by doing for the stu- 

 dent what he can do for himself is botany robbed of certain of 

 •its most obvious advantages as a laboratory study. 



Some instructors are making considerable use of the lantern 

 and photographs, especially to illustrate ecological subjects, and 

 for this purpose they are of the greatest service. Large and 

 varied selections of lantern slides may be purchased (Sec. 219). 

 Charts have their evident value and there are some excellent, 

 although expensive, sets published (Sec. 219). It is not difficult 

 to make simple charts and diagrams even in colors {^Ganong, 7, 

 p. 115), and these may be adapted to the particular needs of the 

 course and cost almost nothing. 



The herbarium and museum are most useful adjuncts to the 

 laboratory. Especially important is demonstration material of 

 groups which cannot be studied in many regions from living 

 plants, as, for example, the marine algse. Such material, either 

 in the form of herbarium sheets or on exhibition in museum 

 cases, forms a most useful part of the equipment of a botanical 

 department. The advantages of collections covering the local 

 flora are too obvious to need discussion. These matters are well 

 treated by Ganong, 7, Chapter VI. 



Laboratory Methods 



The laboratory work, with its accompanying notes, should 

 be kept absolutely separate from the text reading. Text-books 

 should not be allowed on the laboratory tables. Their function 

 is to present systematized accounts and conclusions after the 

 student has obtained a sufficient first-hand knowledge of the 



