PREFACE 



In the judgment of the author the study of plants ought 

 to begin with the seed plants, as these forms are more or 

 less familiar to the student and, therefore, appeal to him 

 as something not altogether strange. They have a further 

 hold upon him because many of the forms studied have 

 close association with his everyday life. 



The first part of the manual, therefore, deals with the 

 general subject of the seed plants, treating of them under 

 the great divisional headings of Seeds, Boots, Sterns, Leaves, 

 Flowers, and Fruits. There is undoubtedly more material 

 for study than can be covered in a half year, with a labora- 

 tory time of four hours a week, but it is believed the teacher 

 should have abundant subject matter from which to select 

 a course that will be applicable to the conditions prevailing 

 in his school. 



There is much diversity of opinion, and consequently of 

 practice, among those teaching botany as to the initial 

 subject for the fall semester. Some begin with leaves, 

 some with seeds, some with fall flowers and fruits, some 

 with the algae (as pleurococcus). This order of beginning 

 is based upon the assumption that the study of seed plants 

 (Part I of this manual) is taken up during the second or 

 spring semester (the most logical procedure in the opinion 

 of the author). The study of plants, as stated above, ought 

 to begin with these familiar forms, hence an ideal course 

 in botany would start in February and end in January of 

 the following year, the spore plants following the seed 

 plants (i.e. from the known to the unknown). 



