50 STUDY OF COMMON PLANTS. 



to every morphological feature. The following and a 

 considerable number of additional species can usually be 

 obtained, some at the florist's, others at the grocery, and 

 still others at the drug store : ginger, iris, geranium, onion, 

 crocus, Solomon's seal, aconite, calamus. Fresh indigenous 

 plants will furnish many more. 



III. Examine specimens of as many of the following 

 genera as are procurable, and discuss their morphology: 

 Muhlenbeckia, Myrsiphyllum, Ruscus, Asparagus. 



In such exercises, a hasty examination of external feat- 

 ures is by no means sufficient. Every species taken in 

 hand should be subjected to patient and thorough study. 

 Some of those named present difficulties that are not likely 

 to be overcome by a student who is unwilling to think. 



GROWTH OF STEMS FROM BUDS. 



I. Obtain, before they have opened in spring, well- 

 developed buds of lilac, maple, hickory, horse-chestnut, 

 Austrian pine, and other trees. Study them carefully 

 with regard to protective arrangements, taking account 

 of the structure and position of the bud-scales (imbri- 

 cated like the shingles of a roof), waterproofing, hairs ; 

 in short, whatever appears to contribute to the protec- 

 tion of the parts within. What part of the bud is best 

 protected ? 



II. Study next the arrangement of the parts composing 

 the bud, taking first the buds of the lilac, and following 

 with those of the horse-chestnut and other trees. Remove 

 the bud-scales and undeveloped leaves in succession, and 

 lay them in radiating rows, following the order in which 

 they are placed in the bud. 



