2 



ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURAL BOTANY. 



cultivate, iu short, not merely his memoiy, hut also, 

 and chiefly, his powers of observation. 



It is desirable that the beginner should provide hiua- 

 self with a magnifying glass of moderate power for 

 examining the more minute parts of specimens ; a 

 sharp penknife for dissecting ; and a couple of fine 

 needles, which he can himself insert in convenient 

 handles, and which will be found of great service in 

 separating delicate j^arts, and in impaling fine portions 

 for examination with the aid of the lens. 



CHAPTEE I. 



EXAMINATION OP A BUTTERCUP. 



2. To begin with, there is no plant quite so suitable 

 as our common Buttercup. This plant, which has 

 conspicuous yellow flowers, may be found growing in 

 almost every moist meadow. Having found one, take 

 up the whole plant, loosening the soil a little, so as to 

 obtain as much of the Boot as possible. Wash away 



the earth adher- 

 ing to the latter 

 part, and then 

 Ijroceed to ex- 

 amine your spec- 

 imeu. Begin- 

 ning with the 

 Root, (Fig. 1) the 

 Fig. 1. first noticeable 



thing is that it is not of the same colour as the rest of 



