GUIDE FOR GENERAL BOTANY 



3. Another aim of laboratory work, not less important 

 than the one just mentioned, is to acquire scientific 

 habits of thought and work; to learn the method by 

 which knowledge of the given science is acquired. 

 The scientific method differs from the unscientific 

 in laying emphasis upon the absolute necessity of 

 an orderly procedure in thinking and doing, upon 

 willingness to put aside prejudice and preconceived 

 notions, upon scrupulous neatness, accuracy of 

 thought and work, and careful attention to minute 

 details. The scientific method is not peculiar to 

 the natural sciences: it is just as essential in history 

 or language-study as elsewhere, and the highest 

 success in any intellectual pursuit is not possible 

 if the requirements of the scientific method are dis- 

 regarded. 



B. Observation: 



4. Observation is not merely looking at a thing. It 

 means looking for a purpose. The mental attitude 

 of the true observer is that of a questioner. The 

 great Swiss botanist, de Candolle, said, "The in- 

 terrogation point is the key to all the sciences." 

 Observation, then, consists in asking as definite 

 questions as possible about natural objects, and 

 seeking their answer, not from the instructor or 

 the text-book, but from the object itself. 



5. Remember that your specimen is the final authority 

 in all matters of fact. Your first question should 

 never be, "What ought I to see?" "How many 

 parts ought the specimen to have?" but always, 

 without exception, "What do I see?" "How many 

 parts does the specimen have?" Possibly your 

 specimen may be found to differ from that of your 

 neighbor, or from the descriptions in the books. 



