PREFACE vil 



experimental garden, and to field-work. Furthermore, it 

 it must be insisted that the sequence of each of the parts 

 need not be the sequence used by the teacher. For example, 

 in Part I, work on leaves, stems, roots, and seeds may come 

 first, to be followed by the general story of the plant 

 kingdom. The sequence may well differ according to the 

 availability of material or the conviction of the teacher. 



In the laboratory work, it is recommended that the indi- 

 vidual work of the pupils be concerned with the gross struct- 

 ures and behavior of plants chiefly, reserving for occasional 

 demonstration such structures as must be seen under the 

 compound microscope. It is not necessary that the actual 

 forms referred to in the book be obtained in every case. 

 The plant kingdom is represented in every neighborhood, 

 and it is far better to become acquainted with some of the 

 local algae, fungi, liverworts, mosses, etc., than to send for 

 material that does not belong to the possible experience of 

 the student. In the study of Seed-plants, and of course in 

 Part II, it is necessary to arrange for the growing of plants 

 under observation, and the plants selected should be those 

 ordinarily used in gardens or fields, especially those that 

 germinate quickly. 



The illustrations have been cared for by my colleague, 

 Dr. W. J. G. Land, and unless otherwise credited, all 

 illustrations have been prepared for this volume or its 

 predecessors. 



JOHN M. COULTER. 



