6. PLANT-LIFE ON LAND [ch. 



is often in the same position. He will probably use 

 a microtome better than a trowel, and judge better 

 of the methods of fixing and embedding with a view 

 to cutting sections than of potting. Such men will 

 probably have spent, perforce, the greater part of their 

 time in towns, and will thus have missed the experience 

 which falls naturally to those who live in the country, 

 and are observant. 



Still another ground for misunderstanding is the 

 terminology of the science. No subject has been 

 more heavily weighted by technical terms and uncouth 

 names than Botany. The very pronunciation of them 

 is often an offfence to the ear of the cultivated classic, 

 while to those who love nature and natural things 

 the language commonly used in Botany is an effectual 

 barrier to the pursuit of this spontaneous line of 

 interest. A certain thoughtlessness of those within 

 the pale in the use of what can hardly be designated 

 otherwise than as their "slang" must be admitted. 

 It has given reasonable ground for the idea that a 

 botanist loves his terminology, and even glories in it. 

 As a matter of fact the profession groans under the 

 burden. It is largely a legacy of a misguided past, 

 which can only be thrown oif by a determined and 

 collective effort. It is true old terms are constantly 

 becoming obsolete, and dropping out of use, but 

 others are being introduced to meet current needs. 

 The result is that the vocabulary to be heard at 



