HOW TO STUDY PLANT LIFE 83 



of each plant ; but there must always be careful 

 examination and dissection and some record 

 kept of this. Busy students will readily invent 

 time-saving contrivances in the way of signs, 

 symbols, and abbreviations for constantly re- 

 curring terms. The following suggestions will 

 reduce the work of making notes to a very 

 short and simple process. 



R., =root Cor. = corolla 



8t. = stem P. = petals 



L. = leaves Sta. = stamens 



Fl. = flowers Pt. = pistil 



Fst.= flower-stems V = stigma 



Fh. = flower-heads I = style 



C. = calyx 0. - ovary 



8. = sepals Fr. = fruit 



After working for a few months with Na- 

 ture's Garden, students may add to their bo- 

 tanical library ; but in buying new books it is 

 necessary to take care that the subjects do not 

 overlap too much. It is distinctly trying to 

 find two books giving exactly the same infor- 

 mation, and only differing in general style and 

 in the presentation of the facts. All works on 

 plant life must have something in common, but 

 each new book bought should be chosen with 



