INTRODUCTION. 13 



sented. The topical study stimulates to examination of 

 several texts. 



Separate publications written by various research stu- 

 dents upon topics considered in the laboratory are most 

 helpful in any extended study. If, after having studied 

 some particular type or in connection with the study, the 

 student may have access to the published results of some 

 one who has made careful and exact investigation of that 

 topic, he will be prepared to appreciate and assimilate the 

 work and point of view of the special student. Further- 

 more, such literature will bring the student more nearly 

 to the sources from which text statements are constructed, 

 and will give him a broad view of the field of work found 

 in the study of botany. 



Many of these special publications are in foreign lan- 

 guages, but this should not be a serious obstacle to the 

 best students. Any one who expects to do extended work 

 in a biological science will soon find that he must have a 

 reading knowledge of at least German and French, and 

 should begin to familiarize himself with these languages 

 as early as possible. 



Acquaintanceship with good botanical magazines has 

 numerous advantages. Much information upon the 

 topics studied is obtained; the general spirit of scientific 

 workers may become gradually transferred to the student 

 as from month to month he associates himself with the 

 writings of these men; a knowledge of who the men are 

 who are active in the subject is desirable and is to be 

 obtained from a study of the literature of the subject. 



5. Collection and preservation of material. Although 

 much of the material used must be supplied to the student, 



