8 THE FOUNDATION OF ECOLOGY 



as a formation. No method can yield results further from the truth. It is 

 evident that the recognition and limitation of formations should be left abso- 

 lutely to the broadly trained specialist, who has a thorough preparation by 

 virtue of having acquainted himself carefully with the development and 

 structure of typical formations over large areas. 



12. The value of floristic. In what has been said above, there is no in- 

 tent to decry the value of floristic. The skilled workman can spare the 

 material which he is fashioning as readily as the ecologist can work without 

 an accurate knowledge of the genera and species which make up a particular 

 vegetation. Some botanists whose knowledge of ecology is that of the study 

 or the laboratory have maintained that it is possible to investigate vege- 

 tation without knowing the plants which compose it. Ecology is to be 

 wrought out in the field, however, and the field ecologist none other, in- 

 deed, should bear the name understands that floristic alone can furnish 

 the crude material which takes form under his hands. It is the absolute 

 need of a thorough acquaintance with the flora of a region which makes it 

 impossible for a traveler to obtain anything of real ecological value in his 

 first journey through a country. As the very first step, he must gain at 

 least a fair knowledge of the floristic, which will alone take the major part 

 of one or more growing seasons. This information the student of a local 

 flora already has at the tip of his tongue ; in itself it can not constitute a 

 contribution to ecology, but merely the basis for one. In this connection, 

 moreover, it can not be used independently, but becomes of value only after 

 an acquaintance with a wide field. Floristic study and floristic lists, then, 

 are indispensable, but to be of real value their proper function must be 

 clearly recognized. They do not constitute ecology. 



13. Reconnaissance and investigation. In striving to indicate the true 

 value and worth of ecological study, it becomes necessary to draw a definite 

 line between what we may term reconnaissance and investigation. By the 

 former is understood the preliminary^ survey of a region, extending over 

 one or two years. The objects of such a survey are to obtain a compre- 

 hensive general knowledge of the topography and vegetation of the region, 

 and of its relation to the other regions about it. The chief purpose, how- 

 ever, is to gain a good working acquaintance with the flora: a reconnais- 

 sance to be of value must do this at all events. Certain general facts will 

 inevitably appear during this process, but they will invariably need the con- 

 firmation of future study. It would be an advantage to real ecology if 

 reconnaissance were to confine itself entirely to the matter of making a 

 careful floristic survey. Investigation begins when the inquiry is directed 



